Daily Devotional Podcasts

502_Clinging to God in desperation Psalm 69 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. 3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. 4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? 5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. 7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. 11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. 13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. 15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Years ago, during a massive earthquake in Armenia, a school collapsed on the children inside. One father whose little son was in the school rushed to the site. Rescue workers and the people around him assured him there were no survivors. But he refused to leave. He’d often promised his son: “No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.” He began digging, carefully pulling away debris piece by piece. Hours passed, then a day, then two. Many called him foolish and stubborn. After thirty-eight hours, he heard a faint voice—his son calling, “Dad, it’s me!” Beneath the rubble, a pocket had formed where his son and several classmates were huddled together. “I told them,” the boy said, “If my dad is alive, he will find me.” Psalm 69 paints this kind of picture—of a God who hears and rescues, of a child of God who refuses to stop believing. This heartfelt psalm is also prophetic in its portrayal of one who believes against all hope that God will never abandon him. For it was fulfilled in the earthly life of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who said, “My Father never leaves

503_The confidence of the believer Psalm 70 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! George Müller, was a man of God who ran orphanages in England during the 1800s. Müller cared for over ten thousand children in his lifetime, but what stood out was not just his generosity—it was his unwavering trust in God. One morning, the children were ready for breakfast, but there was no food in the pantry and no money to buy any. The staff grew anxious, but Müller calmly said, “Let the children be seated at the table.” He prayed, thanking God for the food He would provide. Moments later, there was a knock at the door. It was the local baker, who said he couldn’t sleep the previous night and felt compelled to bake bread for the orphanage. Shortly after, the milkman’s cart broke down right in front of the home, and he offered all his milk before it spoiled. The children ate their fill. Müller’s confidence was not rooted in circumstances. He sought the Lord with all his heart and had learned that God never fails those who trust Him. Psalm 70 is an urgent prayer of David that reflects the same confidence. The heading says, “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.” This is not just a casual note; it’s a reminder that this psalm was to be sung, remembered, and taken to heart. In fact, much of it echoes Psalm 40:13–17. These words were meant to be imprinted in the minds of God’s people, equipping them for times of need. David’s prayer begins: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” You can feel the desperation. It’s the cry of a man cornered, who knows that unless God intervenes quickly, he is finished. Those who seek the Lord do not hesitate to call upon Him in every trouble. They know He is their only source of help. David then paints a contrast between two very different groups of people. The first group is those who seek his life. These are not casual enemies; they actively plot harm, seeking to destroy him both physically and emotionally. They mock him, delight in his troubles, and whisper plans to ruin him. David prays that God, his judge, will put them to shame, turn them back in confusion, and ensure their plans come to nothing. Not mere vindictiveness, this reflects the strong desire for God’s justice to be seen—that evil should not triumph over righteousness. The second group has an entirely

504_Faith that grows stronger with age Psalm 71 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. 7 I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. 10 For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together 11 and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.” 12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! An old man owned a stout, weathered walking stick. It wasn’t fancy—just a sturdy piece of wood, smoothed and darkened by years of use. Whenever he went on walks with his grandson, he leaned on that stick—not just for support, but almost as if it were an old friend. His grandson once asked him why he didn’t buy a newer, lighter one. He smiled and said, “This stick has been with me for many years. It’s carried me through uneven paths, steep hills, and slippery ground. It’s not just a stick—it’s part of my journey.” The child didn’t understand his grandpa’s statement at the time. As he grew, he realized that the old walking stick was more than a tool—it supported his grandpa’s confidence in his mobility. In the same way, the psalmist in Psalm 71 leaned on God as his unfailing support through every stage of life. And as he grew older and weaker, his dependence and his confidence only deepened. Psalm 71 testifies to the righteousness and strength of God. It is the song of one who had walked with God for a lifetime and found Him faithful at every step. As the old man looks back, he remembers God’s steadfast care. Yet his words are not just reminiscences of the past—they are the confident prayers of one who knows that the God who carried him through youth will not abandon him in old age. He begins in trust: “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.” As his strength faded and his enemies threatened his life, it would have been natural for him to feel vulnerable. As we age, we may lose confidence in our abilities. We may even

505_The glory of the coming King Psalm 72 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! 5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 was among the greatest events of the century. It was broadcast to millions across the world—an unprecedented moment in television history. London streets overflowed with people, banners waved in the wind, and the sound of trumpets filled the air. Dignitaries, royalty, and leaders from around the globe gathered in Westminster Abbey to watch as the young queen received her crown. Yet, for all its grandeur, she was still a mortal, a monarch who was nevertheless subject to death. It was but a faint shadow of a greater coronation still to come— when the King of kings will take his power and reign, not over a single nation, but over all the earth. Psalm 72 describes that momentous time, with prophetic vision. Introduced as David’s psalm “Of Solomon,” it quickly becomes clear that its vision is too vast, too perfect, too enduring to be fulfilled by Solomon alone. Solomon’s reign began with promise and was marked by matchless wisdom, enduring peace, and dazzling prosperity. Yet he, like every human ruler, was flawed and finite. This psalm stretches beyond him to the only King who embodies the righteousness and justice that are the very foundation of God’s throne, as Psalm 89:14 declares. This great psalm begins: “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.” Solomon’s prayer closely resembled this, when God asked him, in a dream, what he desired most. At that time, he begged for neither wealth nor long life, but for wisdom to judge God’s people in righteousness. God was pleased with his prayer. For righteousness and justice are not merely admirable traits in the leader of the people. Rather, they are the reason he rules as a representative of God’s kingdom. Solomon ruled with justice and mercy. He foreshadowed the coming King who would defend the cause of the poor,

506_It is good to be near God Psalm 73:1-6 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Vs. 23-28 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. A girl who freshly graduated, was in her first year working at a large company. She was diligent, honest, and often stayed late to finish her work. She assumed that hard work and integrity would be noticed. But when promotion season came, the recognition went to a colleague who, in her words, “spent more time flattering the boss than doing actual work.” This colleague cut corners, took credit for others’ ideas, and seemed to play the system perfectly. She said, “I didn’t just feel overlooked—I felt foolish, like maybe I was the one doing life wrong.” That deep ache when the world seems upside down is exactly where Asaph finds himself in Psalm 73. This psalm was written by one of King David’s chief musicians, a man who was not only skilled in music but also reflected deeply on the ways of God. The problem he addresses is as old as humanity itself: Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer? Asaph begins with a confident declaration: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” He knows the history of his nation and the faithfulness of God, even in times when the people were unfaithful. But almost immediately, he admits to a personal crisis of faith: “My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” Why? “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Envy has a way of twisting our perspective. It always begins with comparison—measuring our lives against someone else’s—and it is very dangerous. The first murder in history - when Cain killed Abel - was born of envy. So was the greatest injustice in history, the crucifixion of Jesus, driven in part by the envy of the religious leaders. Asaph’s envy began

507_Longing for the glory of His temple Psalm 74 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! 4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. 5 They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. 8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. Vs. 12-17 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. 17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. Vs. 22-23 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually! There was a priceless painting that hung in a cathedral in Europe. The artwork had been admired for centuries, not merely because of its beauty but because it represented deep faith and devotion. During an act of vandalism, someone walked in and slashed the canvas with a knife. In a matter of seconds, what had taken the artist months to paint and what generations had cherished was marred almost beyond recognition. When people saw the damage, they were heartbroken—not just because of the financial value lost, but because something sacred, something that represented their shared heritage, had been violated. The good news was that skilled restorers later worked painstakingly to repair it. But in that moment of destruction, the grief was overwhelming. That kind of anguish is what Israel felt when the sanctuary of God was destroyed. Psalm 74 captures this raw lament. It is a psalm attributed to Asaph, though commentators are divided on the exact historical setting. Some suggest it was written when the Babylonians tore down the temple in Jerusalem; others believe it might go back to the loss of the tabernacle at Shiloh in 1 Samuel 4. Whichever event it refers to, the heart of the psalm is clear—it is a desperate cry for God to look upon the ruins of His sanctuary and act.

508_Promotion comes only from God Psalm 75 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. 2 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah 4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’” 6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 9 But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. While Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States, a certain man came to him asking for a political appointment. The man spoke at length about his qualifications and his experience. When he was done, Lincoln quietly responded, “I will see what I can do, but remember this: it is not I who give promotion, nor the cabinet, nor even the people—it is God.” Whether in the corridors of power or in the ordinary course of life, people strive for recognition, advancement, and honor. Yet the Bible repeatedly reminds us that only God can confer true promotion - not human effort, manipulation, or influence. Psalm 75 begins with thanksgiving: “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.” It begins with thanksgiving to God. This is always the right place to begin. For unless we lift our eyes to the One who is above all, we will fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others or striving in our own strength. The psalmist knew that Israel’s God was awesome in majesty, clothed in light unapproachable, and mighty in His wondrous deeds. Yet, high and exalted as he is, He was near to the lowly among His people. Isaiah 57:15 declares: “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Psalm 138:6 echoes this truth: “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” Psalm 75 reminds us that in a world filled with injustice, unrighteousness, and power struggles, as verse 2 says, “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.” God has fixed a

509_God is to be feared Psalm 76 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah 4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains full of prey. 5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned. 7 But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? 8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, 9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. 11 Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, 12 who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. Imagine standing at the foot of a great mountain. The air is sharp, the peak towers above, and its vastness makes you feel small, even fragile. A man once visited the Himalayas for the first time. He had seen pictures, read books, and watched documentaries, but none of that prepared him for the immensity of standing there in person. He said he felt overwhelmed, almost trembling—not because the mountains were threatening, but because their sheer grandeur dwarfed his existence. That sense of awe, that trembling recognition of something far greater than ourselves, is a faint reflection of what Scripture calls the fear of the Lord. It is not the cringing fear of a tyrant, but the deep reverence and trembling awe before the majesty of Almighty God. Psalm 76 captures this awe. It celebrates God’s greatness and His mighty acts on behalf of His people. The psalmist recalls a victory where God Himself intervened, stripping enemies of their strength and leaving them helpless. It is both a song of triumph and a solemn reminder: this God is not to be trifled with. He is near to His people, but His holiness demands reverence. The psalm begins on a note of celebration: “In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. His abode has been established in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.” God is not far away or hidden. He has revealed Himself. His people know His name and His character, and His presence dwells among them. Yet this nearness does not make Him ordinary. It magnifies His greatness. The God who dwells in Zion is the same God who shatters weapons of war and silences the proud. The psalmist paints a vivid picture of that victory: “The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war could not use their hands. At

510_The light of God’s faithfulness in dark days Psalm 77 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah When William Carey, the great missionary to India, returned home one evening in 1812, expecting the familiar comfort of his study, he was greeted instead by the charred remains of his house and printing press. Almost all his work had been consumed by the fire. Years of painstaking work—the manuscripts of his translations of the scriptures into Indian languages, dictionaries, and other writings—lay in ashes. Carey had devoted countless hours to this work, but much of it was now irretrievably lost. Instead of collapsing in despair, Carey revealed remarkable composure. He wrote to a friend, “The loss is heavy, but as traveling a road the second time is usually done with greater ease than the first, so I trust the work will lose nothing of real value. We are not discouraged. We will begin again with redoubled vigor.” Such resilience in the face of devastating loss was driven by Carey’s secret strength. This lay in the constant habit of looking beyond immediate circumstances to the unchanging faithfulness of God. He focused, not on the ashes of his labor, but on the God whose wonderful deeds in the past assured him of His goodness in the future. This is the very melody of Psalm 77. It is a psalm for those walking through fire, for those standing among the ruins of what once was, for those facing questions with no immediate answers. This psalm of Asaph begins with anguish. “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched

511_Resting in God’s salvation Psalm 78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. Vs.67-72 He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. 69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. 70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; 71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. 72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. The waves were gentle at first. The man paddling in the sea did not know how to swim, but he told himself it was harmless to wade just a little further. He enjoyed the cool splash of the water against his knees. But in a moment, the mood shifted. A strong current pulled him off balance. He stumbled, tried to regain control, and before he realized what was happening, he was being dragged out into deeper waters. The fun turned to fear. He thrashed wildly, gasping for air as the waves crashed over his head. On the shore, a watching lifeguard sprang into action. Experienced, strong, and calm, he dove into the surf, and swam with steady, powerful strokes. Relief swept over the victim as he felt himself secured in the powerful grip of the rescuer. He was no longer alone and helpless. But as the lifeguard began the long swim back to shore, the rescued man began to panic again. Struggling to swim, he screamed, “What if we sink again? What if you can’t hold me?” The lifeguard replied: “ Relax and trust me. I know what I’m doing.” This picture is not far from what Psalm 78 describes. God had delivered His people Israel time and time again. He had rescued them from Egypt with mighty acts, parted the Red Sea, fed them with manna in the wilderness, given them water from the rock, and protected them by the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet, like the man in the sea, Israel