Hive Resources

A Site to Sweeten Your Walk with Christ

Ps. 38 – 10 things sin does to you (& what God does about it)

By: demingglobal12 Comments

Psalms - A Series 6 {Hive Resources}

Sin is a tricky little devil. She makes us believe we don’t have a sin problem or that the sin problems we do have are no big deal.

Of course, I’m personifying sin here, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Sin is rebellion against God. It’s why Paul says we are all born as children of wrath (Eph. 2:1).

So, for everyone who thinks their sins aren’t as bad as the next person’s, listen to the words of Ps. 38.

David knew about the deceptiveness of sin. He was well-acquainted with the guilt and shame she leaves behind. Perhaps penned in the wake of his soap-opera affair with Bathsheba, David outlines what sin can do to us in this song of lament.

And he would know. But so would we.

10 things sin does to you & what God does about it {Hive Resources}

10 results of sin (Ps. 38:1-12):

  1. Incur God’s wrath (vs. 1-2)
  2. Lack of peace (vs. 3)
  3. Sickness (vs. 3, 7)
  4. Weighs you down (vs. 4, 6)
  5. Makes you fester (pine away) (vs. 5)
  6. Impacts your emotional health (anxiety, depression) (vs. 6)
  7. Impact your physical health (weakness) (vs. 7-8)
  8. Lose passion, motivation (vs. 10)
  9. Estrange you from family & loved ones (vs. 11)
  10. Open you up to further attack (vs. 12)

Sin has tangible results.

The folly of sin is believing that we can keep our sins private or hidden, that we can minimize the damage it brings, and that we can localize its impact to only ourselves.

Ps. 38 reveals that our bodies weren’t created to withstand the effects of sin. We were created for more – for a different kind of life.

So, what are we do to about it? David demonstrates three responses to sin in Ps. 38 that we should mirror.

The right response to sin (Ps. 38:17-20)

1.      David gives up his sin (vs. 17)

Not all sickness or disease is due to a person’s sin (vs. 3,7-8), neither are all emotional health issues (vs. 6-10). But in David’s case, God used sickness and the guilt it brings to convict the king’s heart of his folly.

As a result, David experiences true sorrow over his sin.

“For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continually before me.” (Ps. 38:17)

2.      David confesses his sin (vs. 18)

There can be no true salvation without true sorrow for sin. David does more than confess or admit his sin before God; he “anguishes” over it. The word “anguish” in the Hebrew means “to be anxious, be concerned” or “to fear, dread.” David acknowledges the magnitude of his sins beyond lip service.  He takes full responsibility for it and its effects.

“For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin.” (Ps. 38:18)

3.      David turns from his sin (vs. 19-20)

Life presents us with two paths to choose between – the path of life and the path of destruction (Ps. 1). David chose to follow the path of good, while those around him continued down the wrong path.

In the original language, the word “follow” means to “pursue or dog” in a passionate and intentional sense. David’s choice was not easy; the right choice never is.

“But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.

Those also who render evil for good,

They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.” (Ps. 38:19-20)

What God does in light of sin (Ps. 38:21-22)

1.      God doesn’t forsake us (vs. 21)

God does not nor will not forsake us to our sin. We can trust that God’s presence is always near to those who trust him.

What does God’s presence mean? It means all 10 effects of sin listed in this song are wiped away with God’s presence. In God’s presence we find joy (Ps. 16:11). In God’s presence we find safety (Ps. 31:20). In God’s presence we find peace (Phil. 4:6-9). One day, God’s presence will be permanently manifested to us.  We won’t have to worry about sickness, sorrow, or death anymore (Rev. 21:4).

2.      God is quick to help (vs. 22)

If we think we can fix our own sin problem then we have yet to come to an appropriate understanding of the grossness of our sin. We cannot make enough amends, throw enough money at it, or cover it up well enough. We need help to deal with sin.

Thankfully, our God is quick to help us through salvation. When we come to him in anguish over what’s we’ve done, he does not delay.

Dear Lord, thank you for being a God who helps and stays. Messing up comes so easy, even when I’ve just read your Word and spent time talking to you – I can’t seem to stop choosing the wrong path. Be my helper today. When I’m caught in the moment of anger or ugliness, remind me that you’ve intended something better for my life. Please forgive me, Lord. Please be quick to help. May your presence guide me in all gentleness and mercy today. Help me to rest in you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Did you miss a post in this Psalms series? Click here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps. 37: Why the big picture of Scripture gives us big hope

By: demingglobal15 Comments

Psalms - A Series 6 {Hive Resources}

One of my dearest Christian friends told me her most embarrassing moment was when a non-Christian friend asked her a question about the Bible.

“So, what’s the Bible about? Tell me in 30 seconds or less,” she asked. Her question wasn’t argumentative or defensive. She was asking out of curiosity.

Feeling the glare of a spotlight, my friend said she stammered for a bit and then admitted she needed more time.  But I think if my friend had Ps. 37 tucked away in her pocket, her conversation with her friend would have turned out much differently.

Psalm 37 is a big picture psalm.

In it David gives us a bird’s eye view of what God is up to in the Bible: God chose his people to live in his kingdom and to receive blessings.

Key to the Big Picture is the role God gave his people as his servants – to show the surrounding nations what life in God’s kingdom looked like. But very often, Israel failed miserably in this role, which is why God sent a perfect Servant to sacrifice himself on their behalf so God’s people could be the servants God intended.

Seeing Big Hope in the Big Picture of Scripture {Hive Resources}

Scholars call the Big Picture the Grand Biblical Narrative – how God chose a people, saved them from sin through his Son, and restored them (and the rest of creation) to himself. And it’s important to know it because all Scripture – all 66 books -point to this one narrative.

And although my friend was embarrassed, I don’t think her experience is too uncommon. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I began to put the larger pieces of Scripture together. And it was only in my seminary coursework that I saw the Big Picture emerge from the depths of God’s Word.

I think many of you are in the same boat. We tend to read the Scriptures as if they are segmented stories. Popular Bible studies tend to be organized topically effectively divorcing them from the larger story of Scripture.

So, why is the Big Picture of Scripture such a big deal?

When we read Scripture through the lens of the Big Picture, hope becomes clear.

Ps. 37 is a prime example of the big hope attached to God’s Big Picture. Because in light of the Big Picture, David is calling the people to trust that God has a plan.

In Ps. 37, the choice to trust looks like: 

[custom_list style=”list-2″]

  • Choosing to doing what God does (vs. 3a, 27, 30)

As believers we must strive to do good, knowing there is a just Judge.

  • Choosing to dwell where God is (vs. 3b, 29, 31)

For the Israelites, this meant dwelling in the land of Canaan. For believers today, we demonstrate trust when we seek to dwell where God is so we might feed on his faithfulness (vs. 3b).

  • Choosing to delight in who God is (vs. 23)

[/custom_list]

Believers experience total satisfaction in God and His kingdom. Trust means choosing not to seek out other kingdoms that appear better. It also means choosing not to look at the blessings of others and begrudgingly wonder if God has blessed others more or in better ways. Loving the Giver of good gifts more than the gifts themselves, is an act of trust.

While we wait for God to finish his plans for us, David says we are to:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • commit our ways to the Lord ( vs. 5, 30-31, 34)
  • rest in him by waiting patiently (vs. 7, 34)
  • cease from anger and forsake wrath (vs. 8)
  • do not fret over enemies (vs. 8)

[/custom_list]

Why do these things? David gives us two reasons in Ps. 37: 

1.       Because God is just (vs. 9-22)

In the end, everything wrong in the world (wickedness and sin) will be punished. And God will make everything right again (vs. 9-22). God’s people will be rewarded with the peace of God’s presence forever (vs. 37)

2.      Because God is faithful (vs. 23-40)

God will ensure that his people will be preserved. The honor of his name is at stake! The righteous King will be faithful to make his people righteous so they can serve as a light to the nations.

Verses 27-28 provide a great description of what righteousness looks like: one who does good, dwells with God, and desires after the things of God (justice and a love for God’s people and God’s law).

This is what is missing in the world and why the King must give his own righteousness to his people because they are unrighteous.

Ps. 37 opens and closes with trust. When we choose to trust in God and the Big Picture for making everything right again, we become living examples of the hope of his plans for the world.

It’s why the Big Picture yields big hope.

Dear Lord, thank you for your salvation and your righteousness. How I came to receive those gifts was a painful and costly process to you. You are Just and you are faithful. Help me choose to live in light of the blessings you’ve given me. I need help waiting on your time table, help choosing you over your gifts, and help delighting in the difficult ways you’ve set before me today. You are my strength today and every day. Don’t let go of me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Did you miss a post in this series? Click here!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps 35-How to reconcile vengeance in the Psalms with turning the other cheek

By: demingglobal12 Comments

Psalms - A Series 6 {Hive Resources}

When I read a psalm such as Ps. 35, I can’t help but wonder – how do passages of Scripture filled with cries for vengeance line up with Jesus’ New Testament teaching to turn the other cheek? (Matt. 5:39)

Here’s an example. In Ps. 35 David hopes his enemies:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • are put to shame & dishonor  (vs. 4,20a)
  • are confused (vs. 4b, 20b)
  • are chased by God’s angel (vs. 5, 6b)
  • find themselves in treacherous places (vs. 6)
  • find destruction unexpectedly (vs. 8)
  • fall in their own traps (vs. 8b)

[/custom_list]

See what I mean? David isn’t exactly generous with his enemies, is he?

How to reconcile vengeance with turning the other cheek {Hive Resources}

So who are David’s enemies? Here’s a description:

[custom_list style=”list-2″]

  • they strive against him (vs. 1)
  • they pursue him (vs. 3)
  • they seek to kill him (vs. 4)
  • they seek to entrap him without cause (vs. 7)
  • they are guilty of injustice (vs. 10)
  • they are fierce witnesses (vs. 11)
  • they reward evil for good (vs. 12)
  • they rejoice in adversity (vs. 15)
  • they band together to attack (vs. 15)
  • they do not know when to stop (vs. 15)
  • they gnashed their teeth (eager to attack) (vs. 16)
  • they do not speak peace but deceit & trouble against the weak (vs. 19)
  • they rejoice in the suffering of others (vs. 26)

[/custom_list]

Hundreds of years later, Jesus also encounters such evil men.

Consider Jesus’ enemies. They were all these things:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • they sought to kill him (Luke 22:1)
  • they tore at his clothes (Luke 23:11, 34)
  • they gnashed their teeth and screamed crucify him (Luke 23:21)
  • they plotted for evil over what they perceived as weakness (Luke 23:10)
  • they sought to ensnare him with false witness (Luke 20:20)
  • they rejoiced in his adversity as he was beaten and mocked (Luke 22:66; 23:1,11, 36-37)
  • they banded together to attack him (Luke 22:67)

[/custom_list]

Yet, Jesus’ response to his attackers differs from David’s response in Ps. 35: 

[custom_list style=”list-2″]

  • Instead of “plead my cause” (Ps. 35:1), Christ says “not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:41-42)
  • Instead of “stand up for my cause” (Ps. 35:2), Christ lets them infer his guilt or innocence (Luke 22:67-71; 23:1-3)
  • Instead of asking for his enemies to be put to shame, confused, chased away, or to meet destruction, Christ says “forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)
  • Instead of asking God to save to his soul (Ps. 35:3), Christ willingly sacrifices himself to bring us salvation.

[/custom_list]

Having trouble reconciling the responses of David and Christ?

Remember 3 things when trying to reconcile vengeance with turning the other cheek:

1)      David is talking about evil people.

The people to whom David refers in Ps. 35 are not simply annoying  or disgruntled individuals pestering a king. These men tormenting him are wicked, and they are willful enemies of God.

2)      David is acting on behalf of the weak.

David knew God had proven himself to be a God concerned for the weak, oppressed, and poor.  God promised that those who preyed on the weak would be destroyed. David’s cries fall in line with God’s heart for society’s cast-offs.

3)      David is crying out against terrible injustice.

When David cries out for vengeance, he is NOT saying he is perfect or undeserving of God’s wrath against sin. Rather, David is seeing evil and injustice around him, and his first reaction is to claim God’s ancient promise to intervene.

The life of death of Jesus Christ is God’s answer to the injustices and evil in the world.  When God poured out centuries worth of vengeance against wickedness on Christ, a single man became the ultimate form of Justice for all mankind. Like David, Christ faced evil men and defended the weak.

But ultimately, Christ is God’s answer to wickedness and injustice. Christ is God’s answer to David’s cries for vengeance.

And it is only because Christ is God’s justice for the world that you and I can turn the other cheek and love the unlovable of the world.

So, now that we live on this side of the cross, what are we do with David’s cries for vengeance? Should we throw them out or write them off as unenlightened?

We should do as David and continue to champion the weak and oppressed in the world.

We should do as David and celebrate the hope that is found in our ultimate form of Justice – our salvation in Jesus Christ. Both can be done with the spirit of humility given to us by Christ.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the world’s ultimate form of Justice. Thank you for empowering me to live the kind of life that David describes in this song – a life empowered by your Spirit to walk in those good works you appointed for me before I was born. Give me your eyes, Lord, to see those who are hurting around me. Give me your hands, Lord, to serve the world’s unlovable instead of pushing them away. Thank you for your peace, your love, your activity in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Did you miss a post in our Psalms series? Click here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps 32 – How mercy changes us

By: demingglobal12 Comments

Psalms - A Series 6 {Hive Resources}Last week I was searching for remorse in one of my kiddos over a specific incident.

It didn’t matter how many times I pleaded, cajoled, or even demanded it, the repentant heart never came. I think the reluctance of his heart to surrender was due, in part, to my unyielding insistence.

I wanted to see change in him, but I was going about it all wrong. It’s taken me a few years to figure out that the Holy Spirit doesn’t need a sidekick. It is his job alone to soften the human heart for repentance and trust.

But equally unfortunate is my discovery that my largest parental failings come in extending mercy to my children. Truly, I am a poor mirror of that unfailing attribute seen only in him.

In Ps. 32, David tells us that God is a merciful God and that God’s mercy changes us.

Here’s what God’s mercy looks like:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • He forgives our transgressions & iniquities (vs. 1,5)
  • He covers our sin (vs. 1b)
  • He does not impute iniquity (vs. 2)
  • He does not abandon us to our sin (vs. 4)
  • He allows himself to be found (vs. 6b)
  • He brings justice to the wicked (vs. 6b)
  • He hides us (vs. 7a)
  • He preserves us from trouble (vs. 7b)
  • He uplifts our spirits (vs. 7c)
  • He instructs us in the way we should go (vs. 8)
  • He watches over us (vs. 8)

[/custom_list]

As a parent, mercy is often fleshed out in two extremes. Either we are over merciful to the point of overlooking sin or we become over-zealous in our attempts to bring justice. In both extremes, we place ourselves in the seat exclusively reserved for the one true Judge. I tend to vacillate between the two.

When we vacillate between these two extremes, we are missing a foundational component of God’s mercy toward us. While God forgives, hides, and protects us from sin, true mercy instructs and guides in the way we should go.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
 I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Ps. 32:8

As a parent, true mercy is tempered by loving instruction and care. That doesn’t always mean we withhold punishment or the natural consequences that come from our child’s sin; it means the goal of our instruction is to shepherd our child toward the grossness of sin and the depths of God’s grace.

Who receives God’s mercy?

Ps. 32 tells us that only those who trust in God will receive his mercy.

“Many are the woes of the wicked,
 but the Lord’s unfailing love
 surrounds the one who trusts in him.” (Ps. 32:10)

The word ‘unfailing love’ in verse 10 is the inexpressibly rich Hebrew word hesed. It speaks of more than God’s mercy, but all his positive attributes he demonstrates toward His people – his goodness, love, mercy, faithfulness, and more. Most importantly, it was a term used for God’s covenant love. God’s people received God’s mercy (hesed), because of the eternal and unchanging nature of God’s promises to bind himself to his people.

How mercy changes us:

When David began this song, he was in need of God’s mercy. But by the end of his refrain, he was surrounded by it. It changed him.

Here’s how mercy changed David:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • In his sin, David “grew old” (vs. 3a). Sin ages us because without God’s sustaining care and refreshing spirit, we head toward destruction.
  • In his sin, David groaned all day (vs. 3b). The seduction of sin is pleasure, but it is not a prize without consequences. It never lasts and it always leaves us burned.
  • In his sin, David he lost his vitality (vs. 4). David felt barren. Only a life in the Spirit produces worthy fruit in our lives. The wicked have nothing to show for their time.

[/custom_list]

This is how mercy changes us – like David we go from sinner to saint, from wicked to righteous, and from depressed to joyous.

Do you want to be changed by God’s mercy? Do the two things David did: acknowledge your sin and seek his forgiveness (vs. 5-6).

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you
 and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, ‘I will confess
 my transgressions to the Lord.’
And you forgave
 the guilt of my sin.”

God’s mercy changes us. God’s mercy has a purpose – to make us righteous and upright (vs. 11). In his mercy, God makes us like him.

Dear Father, thank you for saving me from my sin. I am thankful that your mercy is richer than the depth of my wrongs. Thank you for caring enough to correct me when I get it wrong and make things about me. Help me extend the same type of mercy to my children – guiding them toward you in their dark hours. Help me live out the change you bring in my own life, so that they will see what a life surrounded by mercy looks like. Make us all more like you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Miss a post in this series? Click here!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps. 26: How single-hearted women find freedom

By: demingglobal1comment

Psalms - A Series 6 {Hive Resources}

On Mother’s Day posts and articles will abound about these worthy women – their sacrifice, their ministry, their call and more. But on this Mother’s Day I cannot help but reflect on Ps. 26 and the challenge given to all women regardless of the role they fill.

All women are called to be women of integrity. Regardless of whether we work inside the home or outside of it, whether we have a quiver full or we’re praying for one, each of us is called to be single-minded in our devotion.

In fact, Ps. 26 is a prayer of integrity. Primarily, it paints the picture of an individual who delights in being free.

In Ps. 26, David says integrity looks like:

  • A heart that trusts in God (vs. 1b)
  • A heart willing to be examined (vs. 2)
  • A heart willing to be proven/tested (vs. 2)
  • A heart that rejoices in truth (vs. 3b)
  • A heart that worships God alone (vs. 4)
  • A heart that does not tolerate hypocrisy (vs. 4b)
  • A heart that hates evil & wickedness (vs. 5, 9, 10)
  • A heart that yearns to dwell in God’s presence (vs. 6b, 8)
  • A heart that praises God (vs. 7b)
  • A heart that walks in integrity as a pattern of life (vs. 11)

Read Ps. 26 and notice the similarities with Ps. 1.

Comparing Ps 1 & 26 How integrity is a walk of freedom {Hive Resources}

There is similar language between the two psalms. In Ps. 1, the progressive nature of sin will stop you in your tracks. As you go from walking, to standing, to sitting you’ll find yourself sinking deeper into a pit.

In Ps. 26, the same pattern is present, although reversed. Because the woman of integrity stands firm against sin, she is able to walk without fear – in the Lord’s house, to the congregation, to the altar.

How is this possible? The result of living a single-minded life is sure footing – the freedom to walk without fear. In fact, freedom serves as the bookends to this psalm.

“For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.” (Ps. 26:1)

“My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.” (Ps. 26:12)

Dear Heavenly Father, your Word tells us that being single-minded is not simply a matter of the direction of my worship; it is a matter of freedom. David tells us there is great freedom in living a life of integrity. Please help me be a mother who blazes a path of freedom for my children – so that one day they might walk their own paths of integrity, being singularly-devoted to you and the freedom you provide for their sin. Please help me direct my children to you. Amen.

For the other posts in this series, click here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps. 23 – Because He is my Shepherd

By: demingglobal12 Comments

Ps. 23 Because He is my Shepherd {Hive Resources}This week has been agonizing. Media coverage of the tragic events that unraveled in Boston have left me overwhelmed with the amount of evil and suffering in the world.

 Thankfully, the Scriptures are not silent when it comes to horrific suffering. The Bible offers not just a commentary on why evil occurs, but it also offers us the solution.

The solution is Jesus Christ – our Shepherd who knows first-hand the agony of evil.  In fact, David foretells the terrible suffering of the Messiah in Ps. 22, and then in Ps. 23 he reveals to us the blessings we experience today while we wait for the Shepherd to come again and finish what he started.

Because He is my Shepherd:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • He provides my needs
  • He provides me rest
  • He leads me to safety
  • He leads me to restoration
  • He leads me to righteousness

[/custom_list]

Because He is my Shepherd:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • I have no reason to fear my circumstances
  • My Shepherd won’t ever leave me
  • He guides and direct me
  • He keeps his promises to me
  • He equips me for my calling
  • He blesses me in life beyond anything I could hope for
  • My life is hidden in him – always & forever

[/custom_list]
Throughout the Psalms, David repeatedly calls on the Lord to protect him and keep him safe. When he does so, he is not claiming that God will always keep his people from physical harm. Rather, David is claiming God’s promises to preserve his lineage (2 Sam. 7). Ps. 23 is a statement of hope  in God’s promises to send an eternal King who would lead the people into the presence of the Lord forever.

This week, our nation experienced the ubiquitous and elusive nature of the myth of safety. Shortly after the twin bombings in Boston, Shepherd Press addresses the false security the myth of safety on their Facebook page. Their words were wise and comforting, so I’ll share them here (emphasis mine):

The Boston Marathon appears to be a positive, harmless event. But it became a target of terror, of the evil of the human heart. Yes, what happened in Boston is, at its core, an act of spiritual war. This is why terrorists care little for their own lives. They have believed the spiritual lie that the slaughter of innocents is a good thing and it is pleasing to their god.

Whether it is the act of a single, violent young man or the terrorism of religious zealots or the terrorism of nations vowing destruction to others, war and collateral damage is inevitable. In this sense, no one is safe. No event or activity is beyond the reach of spiritual evil. Don’t teach your children the myth that they are safe from danger. Teach them that true safety is found in believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. War, in all of its ugly forms, will rage on this planet until Christ returns. Some will suffer harm waging this war. Some will suffer harm as the targets of this war. Some will suffer harm fighting against those waging this war. (This is why we owe a debt of gratitude to first responders and our military.) No one is exempt. This is the truth that the media will never report. They have believed the myth that we are entitled to safety.

You cannot promise your children they will be safe from this ugly war. What you can promise is that God is faithful and will one day bring an end to every tear. Living for God is the only course that will bring peace and ultimately, safety.

As David concludes in this iconic passage: Because Christ keeps his promises to shepherd his people, our lives are hidden in his always and forever. Please join me as we pray for the families and citizens impacted by the events of this week and that they might be drawn to the safety of the Shepherd.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” Ps. 23:6

 Looking for more on the Psalms? You can find the entire series here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps 22 – What the suffering of the Messiah means for you

By: demingglobal1comment

Psalms: A Series {Hive Resources}David wrote Psalm 22, but not about himself.

Who is it about? The subject of Ps. 22 is known as “the afflicted one.” In this song, he experiences intense suffering while still choosing to trust in God’s promises for the future.

Traditionally this Psalm has been associated with the agony of Jesus experienced at his crucifixion.

So, did David really intend to write a song about the Messiah? Or, by calling this song Messianic, are we merely guilty of reading the New Testament back into the Old?

Let’s let the text speak for itself. Here’s what the afflicted one experienced:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • Felt forsaken (vs. 1a)
  • Felt unheard (vs. 1b-2)
  • Felt small (vs. 6a)
  • Felt despised( vs. 6b)
  • Felt ridiculed (vs. 7a)
  • Felt slandered (vs.7b)
  • Felt trapped (vs. 12-13)
  • Felt empty (vs. 14)
  • Felt used up (vs. 15)
  • Felt weak (vs. 15)
  • Felt unable to speak (vs. 15)
  • Felt attacked (vs. 16a)
  • Felt broken (vs.16b)
  • Felt extreme pain (vs. 16b-17a)
  • Felt scoffed at (vs. 17b)
  • Felt marginal (vs. 18)
  • Felt injustice (vs. 18)

[/custom_list]

Some (really good) scholars don’t believe David intentionally wrote about the suffering of the Messiah in this psalm. Instead, they believe Ps. 22 refers to the general suffering experienced by God’s righteous people.[1]

However, I believe David writes about the coming sufferings of the Messiah in a prophetic sense in this psalm, and here’s why:

1)  Ps. 22 refers to a unique situation

Ps. 22 does not refer to any recorded incident of David.

David wrote out of his own real experiences as a king, father, servant of God, and sinner. We can trace the historical origin of most of his songs from other accounts in Scripture. For the most part, we know the backstory of each psalm. That is not the case for Ps. 22, which leads me to believe, David is writing about someone other than himself.[2]

2) Ps. 22 uses unique language

Old Testament heavy weight Derek Kidner calls Ps. 22 “the psalm of the cross.”[3]

In fact, Kidner says the “language of the psalm defies a naturalistic explanation.” Listen to the following verses and consider how they uniquely apply to Jesus’ crucifixion:

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • Vs. 1 – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (see Matt. 27:46)
  • Vs. 16 – “They piercedMy hands and My feet;”[4] (Luke 24:40)
  • Vs. 18 – “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”  (see Matt. 27:35; Jn. 19:23-24)

[/custom_list]

Is it possible David is writing about the suffering of the Messiah? Yes, considering Acts 2:30 calls David a prophet.

Throughout history, others have thought the same thing. Consider the title given to this psalm by editors who shaped the final form of the Psalter:  “The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah.”

Why is it such a big deal that we believe Ps. 22 speaks about the Messiah?

In Ps. 22, we are given a picture of the righteous sufferer par excellence. That’s a fancy way of saying that even in the midst of undeserved suffering, the individual of Ps. 22 chose to trust in God.

Listen to the petitions of his heart:

[custom_list style=”list-2″]

  • Do not be far (vs. 1a, 11, 19)
  • Help me (vs. 2, 19)
  • Deliver me (vs. 6a, 20-21)
  • Answer me (vs. 6b-21)

[/custom_list]

Even in the midst of searing physical pain & debilitating emotional abuse, this individual trusted that God was at work in the events of his life.

[custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • He trusted that God was holy (vs. 3)
  • He trusted that God was trustworthy (vs. 4)
  • He trusted that God was personally invested in his life (vs. 9-10)

[/custom_list]

David foresaw the unswerving trust of the Messiah, and knew his suffering would bring about God’s global and perfect kingdom where there is no more suffering (vs. 26-31). David resumes his own voice beginning in verse 22, pledging his own trust.  David says:

[custom_list style=”list-2″]

  • I’ll declare your name (vs. 22a)
  • I’ll praise you in public (vs. 22b)
  • I’ll get others to praise you (vs. 23)
  • You are near (vs. 24b)
  • You hear (vs. 24c)
  • I’ll pay my vows (vs. 25)

[/custom_list]

What does Ps. 22 have to do with me? 

Ps. 22 tells those who experience similar abuse that there is a God who will bring justice. The God of Ps. 22 is holy, and he is trustworthy. Even more so, he is personally invested in your life even when it seems he is not.

He hears your prayers, he answers your heart’s deepest cries, and he is near to you. And because of the suffering experienced by the Messiah, you can trust you will see a day when there is no more pain and no more abuse.

While you wait on Him, David urges you to do demonstrate your trust as he does – declaring God’s name and praises. What does the suffering of the Messiah mean for you? According to Ps. 22, the suffering of the Messiah means you can trust – once again.

What are you clinging to today? What truth from Ps. 22 brings you the most peace and comfort?

Did you miss a post in my Psalms series? Click here!

[1] The authors of Jesus the Messiah don’t believe this Psalm is a direct prophecy of Jesus Christ. Rather, this psalm and others like it are “designed to show that Jesus suffered a rejection common for one who is righteous and faithful before God.” If anything, the New Testament demonstrates Jesus is “the righteous sufferer par excellence,” and “the culmination in a pattern of suffering the righteous often face.” (See Jesus the Messiah, pg. 433).

[2] Also the position of Derek Kidner. (See his commentary, pg. 122).

[3] Kidner, 122.

[4] According to Kidner, the word for “piercing” is considered a problematic Hebrew phrase; however, the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew) translates it as such nearly two centuries before Jesus’ crucifixion.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ps. 21: Stop sounding like a broken record (teach your kids to make wise choices)

By: demingglobal16 Comments

Ps. 21 - How to stop sounding like a broken record: teaching your kids to make wise choices{Hive Resources}I have a list of things I catch myself saying over and over again. Every mother does.

Here’s my top-ten Mom Mottos (in no particular order):

(1)  Careful!

(2)  You’re interrupting…

(3)  Can you try saying that again, but without whining?

(4)  We only color on paper.

(5)  Your shirt is NOT a tissue!

(6)  I’m NOT going to tell you again! (and then I totally do)

(7)  Are you making an honoring face or a dishonoring face?

(8)  You have two seconds to stop that.

(9)  Get your finger out of your nose!

(10)  Get your hands out of your pants! (moms of boys will feel me here)

But during a visit with my family, I picked up another great Mom Motto from my sister Caroline (who, incidentally, has three boys). I heard her tell one of her sons: “You have two options. You can choose to ________ (obey) or you can choose to _______  (insert punishment). Which option will you choose?”

As soon as I heard it, I immediately filed it away in my brain’s I-want-to-be-a-better-mom file.

So, in case you have one of those mental storage bins, here’s how the motto usually works out in my house: “You have two options. You can either pick up the playroom like I asked or you can go spend some quiet time by yourself in your room. Which option do you choose?”

And because Option A (obedience) usually sounds better than Option B (punishment for disobedience), the twins typically chose the first option. I use this method because I want to convey to my children that obedience and disobedience are choices the Bible describes as wise and foolish, respectively. I want my boys to know their choices matter.

In Ps. 21, I can’t help but picture David framing for his children the two options presented them in life.

According to David, those two options look like two divergent paths – the path of salvation and the path of destruction. Both end at two different destinations.

So, here’s your two options in life – pulled straight from Ps. 21:

Option A: Salvation brings blessings of goodness (vs. 3)

Option B: Disobedience brings punishment from the hand of God (vs. 8)

 

Option A: Salvation brings eternal life (vs. 4)

Option B: Disobedience brings death in a fiery oven (vs. 9)

 

Option A: Salvation brings glory, honor, and majesty (vs. 5)

Option B: Disobedience removes any legacy we hope to have (vs. 10)

 

Option A: Salvation brings gladness from the presence of God (vs. 6)

Option B: Disobedience brings futility and failure in endeavors (vs. 11)

 

Option A: Salvation brings confidence (vs. 7)

Option B: Disobedience brings instability and death (vs. 12)

 

The choices are pretty clear. Option A is the better choice – by far.

My own children are still learning that the temporal satisfaction of Option B will never outweigh the eternal rewards of Option A.

And I’m learning too – mainly that I do my children no favors when I shout out threats, repeat instructions like a broken record, or teach my children to delay their obedience until I’ve counted to three (which I’ve totally done – and did last night – by the way!) I want my children to obey because it is the right and wise choice. But ultimately, I want my children to learn what loving obedience looks like with a far greater choice looming for them in the future.

Interestingly, in Ps. 21 both Option A and Option B are accomplished by the same powerful Hand – the Hand that created them and is worthy to be praised.  God is the loving parent who does not shirk from his duty to guide his children toward wise choices and discipline them when they make foolish ones.

Now, if I could just be the type of mother who consistently strives to guide her children toward the path of salvation, patiently waiting for the eternal and precious rewards that come with the difficult choices before them.

Now, that’s a message I wouldn’t mind listening to over and over again!

What Mom Mottos do you find yourself repeating? Somebody should really start writing those down! Praying we can step out of our cliches and into God’s Word as diligent mothers.

Did you miss a post in my Psalms series? Check them out here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

PS 16 – An Easter Psalm

By: demingglobal12 Comments

Ps 16 An Easter Psalm {Hive Resources}

Psalm 16 is a michtam psalm.

There are six of them, all written by David.[1] And all hint at the hope of resurrection.

Here’s what one of my favorite scholars has to say about these songs:  “Michtam suggests that this psalm was one of David’s golden meditations, dealing with truth so significant it should be preserved forever…”[2]

Looking through the prism of the New Testament, both the Apostle Paul and Peter say this psalm refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[3]

At the very least, David is trusting in God’s faithfulness to restore and raise up his house on an eternal throne (2 Sam. 7). And in verses 7-11, David believes God’s great plan of restoration would indeed include a resurrection.

According to David, God’s plan to restore him included a plan for both today and tomorrow.

His Plan for today

According to this song, part of God’s plan for us today means he guides us, guards us and gladdens us. [4]

  • God guides (vs. 7)

7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

When David wrote these words, he had just stolen Saul’s spear right from under his nose (1 Sam. 26:19-29). He was running as an outlaw with no family or inheritance to run toward (Ps. 16:1-6).

He had great need to trust in God’s promises to guide Him safely while in flight as well as to trust in God’s guiding precepts when his dreadful circumstances (“night seasons”) screamed God’s counsel was foolhardy.

  • God guards (vs. 8)

8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

For David, trust meant keeping his eyes trained toward the Lord. Because God’s presence was always with him, David knew he could safely trust God’s promises to forge for him an eternal throne. God would be faithful to guard David. (“I shall not be moved.”)

Today, we tend to overlook the promises of protection and safety to which the  patriarchs fiercely clung. And while God’s promises to guard his children weren’t always synonymous with physical protection, they always included an expression of a future hope. If God was not faithful to preserve the lineage of his chosen children, how then would his promise of a Messianic seed come to pass?

  • God gladdens (vs. 9)

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.

Because God was faithful to his promises, David’s heart could dwell in joy. The joy David experienced was defined by gladness, rejoicing, and peace (“My flesh also will rest in hope.”)

For someone sleeping in caves and running by night, David’s flesh probably saw very little rest.  When I don’t get enough sleep, I’m far from joyous and even farther from peaceful. Yet, David’s hope gave rise to peace because it was fueled by divine gladness.

God’s plan for today? He guides, guards, and gladdens you. But his plan for tomorrow is even better.

His plan for tomorrow2

By the time you get to the New Testament, God’s plan of restoration is laid out less like a mystery and more like a map. It tells you how to get from point A to point B – from a broken vessel to restored work of art (Eph. 2:8-10).

At the center of our hope for restoration is God’s plan to resurrect us – just as he did His Son. The New Testament writers push us to both hope in our future resurrection and live by the power of Christ’s resurrection in the present (Eph. 1:18-23).

In the Old Testament, the object of that hope is not completely unveiled for us even as the hope itself fills each story on each page.  But in passages like Ps. 16, we are given glorious glimpses of what is to come and how we are to come by it.

An Easter Psalm (Hive Resoures)

In Ps. 16, David reveals that the source of joy in ‘his today’ comes ultimately in trusting how God handles ‘his tomorrow.’ David knows that death is not the end. God will not leave him (vs. 10a) but will preserve him (vs. 10b) for eternity.

What informs David’s hope? The fact that God will not allow his “Holy One” to see corruption.  David is referring to that person promised to come from his lineage who would be a forever king on a forever throne (2 Sam. 7).

In a time when mystery remained, David gets its. His eyes are trained on God who resurrects us to life, fullness of joy, and eternal pleasures with our Lord who has already preceded us to the right hand of God.

As scholar Derek Kidner says: To have God is “to enjoy not only guidance and stability, but resurrection and endless bliss.”[5]

For those reasons alone, Ps. 16 is indeed a song that we should preserve in our hearts forever. Michtam, indeed.

Ladies, whatever difficulties or pain you bear this Easter season, know that God has a plan for you for both today AND tomorrow. If you are found in Him, God guides, guards, and gladdens you. And he promises not to leave you in your situation.  

In meantime, fix your eyes as David did, on the Holy One who brings joy, peace, and rest.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

[1] The other michtam psalms are found in 56-60. Miktam is an alternate spelling.

[2] John Phillips, Exploring the Psalms: Vol. 1 (New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1988), 123.

[3] Acts 2:29-32

[4] Outline taken directly from Phillips, 120-125.

[5] Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72 (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1973), 102.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.