Daily Devotional Podcasts

590_His steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136) Psalm 136:1-9 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; Vs. 23-26 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. The great nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon was visiting an elderly Christian woman who lived in a tiny, weather-worn home. She had almost nothing—just a few pieces of old furniture, a small stove, and a Bible that looked like it had been opened more than any book should withstand. When Spurgeon asked her how she managed life with so little, she smiled and said, “Oh, Mr. Spurgeon, I am rich. I have a bank note pasted in my Bible.” Curious, he opened it—and found written in her own handwriting, next to Psalm 136, the words, “This is my inheritance—His love endures forever.” She didn’t possess financial wealth, but she held a truth so rich that it shaped her entire outlook on life. She had anchored her soul to the refrain that has echoed through the centuries: “His steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136 is sometimes called the Great Hallel, the great song of praise. It was sung in the gatherings of Israel, in festivals, in times of thanksgiving, and even in seasons of national reflection. What sets this psalm apart is its unforgettable rhythm—the repeated refrain that appears in all 26 verses: “His steadfast love endures forever.” The Hebrew word behind “steadfast love” is checed—a word so rich that no single English word can capture its fullness. Translators have used terms like mercy, lovingkindness, faithful love, loyalty, grace, and covenant love. It carries the idea of loyalty expressed in compassionate action, especially within a covenant relationship. It is the love that moves God to rescue, protect, provide, forgive, and remain faithful—even when His people fail. And when the psalm says this love “endures forever,” it is declaring that God’s covenant faithfulness and kindness are not subject to the march of time or the wavering obedience of His people. Time changes. People change. Circumstances change. But His steadfast love remains. The psalm opens and closes with a call to give thanks,

591_Remembering our true home (Psalm 137) Psalm 137 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! 7 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” 8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock! A traveler once described a strange experience he had while waiting in an international airport during a long layover. Everything around him was efficient, bright, and comfortable—restaurants, announcements, familiar brands, even familiar languages. Yet as the hours passed, an unshakable restlessness settled in. He realized that no matter how pleasant the surroundings were, the airport was never meant to be a destination. It was only a place of waiting. The danger was not discomfort, but forgetting that he was meant to move on. If he unpacked his bags there, if he adjusted too well, he would miss his flight home. Psalm 137 emerges from one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s history. Babylon, under the ruthless leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar, had conquered Jerusalem. The city they loved lay in ruins. The temple—the visible sign of God’s dwelling among them—was razed to the ground. The land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was plundered, and its people were carried away by force into a foreign land. This tragedy did not come without warning. God had spoken repeatedly through His prophets. Isaiah and Jeremiah had lifted their voices, pleading with kings and people alike to turn from idolatry, immorality, injustice, and rebellion. Yet they refused to listen. They trusted in rituals rather than repentance, in the temple rather than obedience. They assumed that God’s presence was guaranteed simply because the building stood among them. But when the enemy came, none of these assumptions could save them. God, in His righteousness, handed them over to captivity. Now, hundreds of miles away from home, the people of Israel found themselves living among their captors. Psalm 137 opens with an image heavy with sorrow: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.” Their tears were not merely nostalgic; they were theological. Zion represented far more than geography. It was the place where God had chosen to make His name dwell, the center of worship, the symbol of covenant relationship. As they remembered Zion, their hearts broke afresh. They hung their harps on the willow trees—not because they

592_The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me (Psalm 138) Psalm 138 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. There is a story often told about a master craftsman who was asked how he could remain so calm while working on an intricate piece of art that would take years to complete. He smiled and said, “I am never anxious about the end, because I trust the design. Every day I simply stay faithful to the pattern I have been given.” Those words echo a deep biblical truth: peace does not come from knowing every detail of the future, but from trusting the One who holds the design. Psalm 138 captures that confidence beautifully, especially in its closing declaration: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.” It is not the voice of a man who has lived an easy life, but of David, a man well acquainted with uncertainty, opposition, and suffering, yet deeply convinced that God’s purposes cannot fail. This psalm stands in contrast to the lament of the previous psalm. Here, David lifts his eyes above his immediate circumstances and makes a bold declaration of God’s greatness in the midst of all. From the very beginning, he gives reasons for praise, not rooted in vague optimism, but grounded in who God is and how God has revealed himself. David bows toward God’s holy temple and gives thanks to God’s name for his steadfast love and faithfulness, declaring that God has exalted above all things his name and his word. In a world filled with competing claims to power and authority, David affirms that the Lord stands alone, unmatched and unrivaled. The steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord form the bedrock of David’s worship. Unlike the fickle loyalties of human rulers or the empty promises of false gods, the Lord’s covenant love never wavers. His faithfulness does not depend on circumstances or human merit. God’s name and God’s word are unique in all the earth. His promises do not expire, weaken, or change with time. Scripture repeatedly affirms this truth: all the promises of God find

593_Search me and try me, O Lord (Psalm 139) Psalm 139 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! There is a story often told about a restorer who was once invited to examine a priceless painting that had hung for decades in a dimly lit wall. To the casual observer, it looked fine—serene, even beautiful. But when the restorer brought a bright light and held it close, the room fell silent. Cracks appeared where none were noticed before. Layers of dirt dulled the colors. Tiny repairs made years earlier, meant to hide flaws, were suddenly obvious. The light did not damage the painting; it

594_Lord, the strength of my salvation (Psalm 140) Psalm 140 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, 2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. 3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah 4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. 5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah 6 I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! 7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah 9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! 11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! 12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. There is a story often told of a small coastal town that was battered year after year by fierce storms. The houses closest to the shore were regularly damaged, and many people eventually moved inland. Yet one house remained standing, season after season, seemingly untouched by the fury of wind and waves. When asked how his house endured when others fell, the owner replied simply, “I didn’t build it to look strong. I built it to survive storms.” He had anchored the foundation deep into bedrock, invisible to the eye but immovable when the storm came. Strength, he explained, is proven not in calm weather but in crisis. Psalm 140 is written from the middle of a storm. It is not a calm reflection from a place of safety but an urgent prayer rising from danger. David is surrounded by hostility, malice, and violence. Yet this psalm is not primarily about the power of enemies; it is about the strength of God in salvation. David has learned, through years of trials, that survival does not come from clever strategies or personal might, but from a life anchored in the Lord. That is why he can cry out with confidence, “O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation.” David begins with an urgent plea: “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men.” There is no pretense here, no attempt to sound composed. This is the prayer of someone who knows he is in danger. The enemies he describes are not merely disagreeable people; they

595_Prayer as an offering (Psalm 141) Psalm 141 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! 5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. There is a quiet dignity about an offering. Whether it is placed on an altar, laid gently at someone’s feet, or lifted heavenward in unseen devotion, an offering says something words alone cannot. It declares worth. It acknowledges dependence. It reveals the heart of the one who brings it. In his book Letters to Malcolm, C. S. Lewis observed, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless… It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” Prayer, at its truest, is not a transaction but a transformation. It is not merely asking; it is offering. Psalm 141 draws us into this sacred understanding of prayer—not as a hurried appeal for relief, but as a holy act placed before God like incense on the altar. David begins this psalm with urgency and reverence. He is not casual as he approaches God. “O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you.” His words carry the tone of someone who knows he is standing on holy ground. Then he gives us the controlling image of the entire psalm: “Let my prayer be incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands an evening sacrifice.” David consciously connects prayer with worship, with offering, with the carefully prescribed rituals of the tabernacle. He sees prayer not as background noise to life but as something precious, something God receives. David clearly has the altar of incense in mind. Positioned directly in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, the altar of incense stood closest to the presence of God. According to Leviticus 16, the high priest would take burning coals from the altar and place incense upon them, and the fragrant smoke would rise,

596_He is at my right hand (Psalm 142) Psalm 142 With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. There is something about caves that exposes the truth about us. A cave strips life down to its bare essentials. There is no room for appearances, no space for pretence, and no audience to impress. Darkness presses in, silence amplifies every thought, and fear echoes louder than any spoken word. History tells us that during times of persecution, believers often fled into caves, not because caves were safe, but because they were hidden. One such account comes from the early church, where Christians fleeing Roman persecution worshipped in underground catacombs, clinging to faith when the world above sought their destruction. Those places of isolation became sanctuaries, not because of the walls that surrounded them, but because of the God who met them there. Psalm 142 was born in such a place. It is a psalm written from a cave, when David was a fugitive, hunted not by a foreign enemy, but by Saul, the anointed king of Israel. This is not the confident David standing before Goliath with a sling in his hand, nor the celebrated David welcomed with songs and dances. This is David the outlaw, David the misunderstood, David the man whose very life is under constant threat. Psalm 34 and Psalm 57 are also associated with this season, but Psalm 142 stands apart in its rawness. It is described as a maskil, a psalm of contemplation. It invites us not merely to read David’s words, but to enter into his inner world. The psalm opens not with quiet reflection, but with a cry. “With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.” David does not whisper polite prayers; he raises his voice. There is urgency here, desperation, and honesty. He does not sanitize his emotions before God. He pours out his complaint. The word suggests emptying a vessel completely. Nothing is held back. The injustice, the fear, the confusion, and the pain of being hunted by someone who once promised to protect him—all of it is laid before the Lord. David

597_Lord, my shield, my teacher and my guide (Psalm 143) Psalm 143 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! 12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. There is a story told of a seasoned mountain guide who once led a group through a treacherous pass just as a sudden storm descended. Visibility dropped to almost nothing, the path disappeared under fresh snow, and panic began to spread among the climbers. One of them asked the guide, “How do you know where to go when you can’t see?” The guide replied quietly, “I don’t trust my sight in moments like this. I trust what I know of the mountain and the path I’ve walked many times before.” Those words capture something deeply spiritual. When circumstances overwhelm us and clarity vanishes, what sustains us is not our ability to see the future, but our confidence in the One who has guided us faithfully in the past. Psalm 143 is David’s testimony from such a storm. Surrounded by danger, hunted by enemies, emotionally spent and spiritually weary, he turns to the Lord as his shield, his teacher, and his guide. David begins the psalm with urgency. There is no attempt at eloquence or composure. “Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!” This is the cry of a man who knows that time is short and danger is near. As in many of his psalms, David does not look for protection in alliances, strategies, or human strength. He turns instinctively to God. His confidence is not in his own righteousness, but in God’s faithfulness and righteousness. He is asking

598_He trains my hands for war (Psalm 144) Psalm 144 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3 O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! 6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! 7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, 10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. 11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; 13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets! 15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! There is a well-known story from military history about a young recruit who complained bitterly about the harshness of his training. The drills were relentless, the discipline strict, the instructions exacting. One day, exhausted and frustrated, he asked his commander, “Why must you push us so hard? Surely this is excessive.” The commander replied calmly, “Because when the day of battle comes, it will not be the enemy who trains you. You will fall back on what you have learned here.” Years later, that same soldier testified that those grueling days of preparation saved his life and the lives of others when real combat arrived. Training, though painful, was an act of mercy. Psalm 144 opens with that same truth, spoken not by a novice but by a seasoned warrior-king. David begins with praise: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” These are not the words of a man fascinated by violence, nor of one intoxicated with his own strength. They are the words of someone who has stood on battlefields, faced enemies far stronger than himself, and survived only because the Lord had prepared him. David knew war from a very young age. Long before he wore a crown, he walked into

599_My God, my King (Psalm 145) Psalm 145 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. There is a famous story told about Queen Victoria. On one occasion, while visiting a school, she was asked by a young girl what it felt like to be a queen. The question momentarily caught her off guard. After a pause, she replied gently, “I cannot tell you what it is like to be a queen, but I can tell you what it is like to belong to a King.” She then spoke of her faith in Christ and how His lordship shaped her life. Whether or not every detail of the story is historically precise, the point it makes is profound: even the greatest earthly monarch understood that her authority was secondary, derived, and temporary. There is a higher throne, a truer crown, and a greater King. That same spirit breathes through Psalm 145. David, the greatest king Israel ever knew, lifts his eyes above his own throne and says, “My God, my King.” This

600_Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Psalm 146) Psalm 146 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! There is a story told about a famous tightrope walker who once stretched a rope across Niagara Falls. Crowds gathered as he walked back and forth with perfect balance, carrying a pole, then a chair, even pushing a wheelbarrow across the roaring waters. Each time he reached the other side, the crowd erupted in applause. At one point he turned to them and asked, “Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?” The crowd shouted enthusiastically, “Yes!” Then he asked a quieter question: “Who will get in?” The cheering stopped. Belief, it turned out, was easy. Trust was much harder. That moment captures something very close to the heart of Psalm 146. It is one thing to admire God, to speak well of Him, or to agree that He is powerful. It is another thing entirely to place the full weight of our hope, our future, and our security in Him. The psalmist declares that the truly blessed person is the one who does exactly that: “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146 opens the final collection of psalms, often called the Hallelujah Psalms. Each of the last five psalms begins and ends with the same exuberant call: “Praise the Lord.” It is as if the book of Psalms, after wrestling with lament, doubt, confession, and longing, resolves at the end to lift its eyes heavenward and rest in praise. This particular psalm begins not with a command to others, but with a personal resolve. “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Praise is not presented as a momentary emotional response, but as a lifelong posture. As long as there is breath in his lungs, the psalmist wants praise

601_A song of praise is always good, pleasant, and fitting (Psalm 146) Psalm 147 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6 The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. 10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord! Imagine walking past a small chapel late in the evening. The lights are dim, the doors are half closed, and inside you hear a single voice singing—unpolished, unaccompanied, yet steady. There is no audience, no applause, no visible reason for joy. Later you learn that the person singing has just received news of loss, uncertainty, or pain. And yet, the song rises. Not because circumstances are pleasant, but because praise, in that moment, becomes an act of trust. It is not a denial of sorrow, but defiance of despair. Such praise feels strangely right. It feels fitting. That is the spirit of Psalm 147, the second of the Hallelujah psalms, a song that begins and ends with the same triumphant word: Hallelujah—Praise the Lord. The psalmist opens with a simple yet profound declaration: it is good to sing praises to our God; it is pleasant, and praise is fitting. These three words—good, pleasant, and fitting—tell us that praise is not merely an emotional response or a religious habit. It is morally right, spiritually beautiful, and perfectly appropriate at all times. The psalmist does not say that praise is fitting only when life is smooth or

602_Let all creatures praise the Lord (Psalm 148) Psalm 148 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! There is a famous story told about the composer Joseph Haydn. One evening, after attending a concert where his own music had been performed, he quietly slipped into a nearby chapel. A friend later asked him why he went there instead of celebrating the applause. Haydn replied, “I wanted to give the praise back to the One to whom it truly belongs.” That simple response captures something deeply biblical: praise is not merely an emotional reaction; it is a rightful response. Praise is the echo of creation recognizing its Creator. Psalm 148 invites us into that vast echo. We have come to the third of the Hallelujah psalms, and this one lifts our eyes higher and wider than perhaps any other. The psalmist calls upon the entire universe to praise the Lord—everything that exists, seen and unseen, animate and inanimate, heavenly and earthly. From angels to animals, from stars to storms, from kings to children, all creatures are summoned to bow before the Lord. Praising God, at its heart, means acknowledging and declaring His glory and majesty. It is the recognition that God alone is worthy, that He stands above all that He has made. The psalm begins not on earth but in heaven. Angels and heavenly hosts are called to praise Him. Scripture gives us glimpses of this angelic worship, perhaps most vividly in Isaiah’s vision. Isaiah tells us that above the throne stood seraphim, each with six wings—two covering their faces, two covering their feet, and two with which they flew. They called to one another without ceasing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Even these sinless, powerful beings veil themselves in reverence. Their worship reminds us that praise is not casual familiarity but holy awe. From the angels, the psalmist turns our attention

603_Praise on our lips and a sword in our hands (Psalm 149) Psalm 149 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! 2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. 5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord! There is a well-known story about a group of prisoners of war who were marched every morning to forced labour. Each day, they trudged along the same dusty path, shoulders bent, hope almost extinguished. One morning, one of them began to hum a tune—softly at first, almost imperceptibly. Soon another joined, then another, until the entire group was singing. Nothing in their external situation had changed. They were still prisoners, still weak, still under threat. But something powerful had shifted within them. Later, one of the guards remarked with confusion, “They sing like free men.” That is the mystery of praise. Praise does not deny the battle; it declares who reigns in the midst of it. Psalm 149 belongs to the final cluster of psalms that begin and end with “Hallelujah.” These are songs that lift our eyes from the dust of earth to the throne of heaven. As we step into the fourth of these Hallelujah psalms, the call is unmistakable: “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly.” This invitation is not merely to sing, but to sing anew. The psalmist is not asking God’s people to chase novelty for its own sake, as though worship depends on fresh lyrics or unfamiliar tunes. A new song, in the biblical sense, is born out of a fresh encounter with God. It is the overflow of a renewed experience of His faithfulness, His mercy, His intervention. Throughout Scripture, songs are often written after God has acted—after deliverance, after restoration, after revelation. They carry the weight of lived experience. That is why they have power not only for the singer but for the community that hears them. When God’s people sing in the assembly, they are not merely expressing personal emotion; they are testifying. They are telling one another, “This is what the Lord has done for me, and He can do it for you too.” The psalmist’s words echo the truth we see in Psalm 84, where those whose strength is in the Lord pass through the Valley of Baca—the valley of tears—and make it a place of springs. The image is striking. They do not

604_Let everything that breathes praise the Lord (Psalm 150) Psalm 150 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! There is a well-known story about Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers who ever lived. On many of his musical manuscripts, Bach would write three simple letters at the bottom of the page: S.D.G. — Soli Deo Gloria, “To God alone be the glory.” Music historians tell us that Bach did this not because every piece was written for church use, but because every piece, in his mind, was an act of worship. Whether he was composing a sacred cantata or a simple melody, he believed that sound itself was a gift from God, and the highest purpose of that gift was praise. That simple conviction captures the heartbeat of Psalm 150. When all words have been spoken, when all prayers have been prayed, when all struggles have been fought and all journeys completed, what finally remains is praise. We have come to the last of the Hallelujah psalms and, fittingly, to the final psalm in the entire book of Psalms. The Psalter does not end with a lament, a confession, or even a teaching. It ends with an unrestrained, passionate summons to praise. Thirteen times in just six verses, the word “praise” rings out like the repeated strike of a cymbal. It is as if the psalmist wants to leave no room for silence. The book that began with “Blessed is the man” now ends with “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.” Once everything is over—when our life on earth has run its course, when the battles are finished, when our bodies rest in the grave—praise does not stop. As Psalm 145:2 declares, “Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.” Praise is not merely the language of earth; it is the language of eternity. The psalm opens with a call that is both majestic and intimate: “Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament.” The word “God” here points to the sovereign Creator, the One who spoke the heavens into existence. It awakens awe and reverence in our hearts. Yet the repeated cry “Praise the LORD”—Yahweh—draws us into relationship and closeness. He is not only the transcendent God above the heavens; He is the covenant Lord who walks with His people. The psalmist invites praise in the sanctuary, which for an Israelite meant the visible temple, the sacred place where God’s presence was uniquely manifested. But he does not stop there. He expands the invitation to the firmament itself, the vast expanse of the heavens, reminding us that there is no place where God is absent. Whether in a

605_The fear of the Lord is the foundation (Proverbs 1) Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 8:13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Imagine a tall building rising above a crowded city street. Its glass façade gleams, its design looks flawless, and it appears strong and secure. Yet years later, cracks begin to appear. Engineers investigate and discover that the building was set on too shallow a foundation. The impressive structure failed to endure because its unseen foundation was neglected. Human life is much the same before God. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that spiritual stability does not correlate with outward success, eloquent speech, or religious activity, but with the secret of the heart. Proverbs captures this truth in a single, searching sentence: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Neither the finishing touch, nor an optional add-on, but the very foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The Book of Proverbs itself gathers together such foundational truths. It expresses practical wisdom for everyday life in pithy sayings designed to provide a basis for wise choices. Although the book opens with the words, “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,” Solomon is not the sole contributor. Some sections are attributed to other named authors, and many sayings come from anonymous sources, gathered and preserved over time. Proverbs belongs to the larger body of biblical wisdom literature, alongside Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Unique in its structure, it offers a mosaic of observations drawn from life lived under God, rather than developing long arguments or narratives. Thus, Proverbs must be read with discernment. These sayings are not laws commanded by God, nor promises guaranteed by God. They arise from the wisdom of God manifested in the insights of wise men governed by God’s moral order. Proverbs 22:6 is a well-known example: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This wise and hopeful precept mirrors the profound importance of God-honoring instruction in shaping a child’s life. Yet exceptions abound in scripture, reflecting the ability of children to make their own choices, for which they are responsible, as they grow into adulthood. Therefore, ungodly children of godly parents do not necessarily constitute a denial of the truth

606_Wisdom from above (Proverbs 2) Proverbs 2:1-15 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. A young apprentice asked his master carpenter why he insisted on measuring every piece of wood so carefully before making even the smallest cut. “I already know the length,” the apprentice said. The master replied quietly, “Knowing the length is not the same as submitting to the measure.” Years later, the apprentice understood. Without the humility to submit to an external standard, rightness or accuracy cannot be assured. Wisdom lies in not living by one’s assumptions or confidence, but in submission to the One who shapes reality and sets the ultimate standard. The book of Proverbs underscores the truth that the Lord is the source of wisdom, and those who wholeheartedly seek wisdom inevitably find that they know God. Proverbs 2:1–15 unfolds this theme. Wisdom is not a human invention or refinement. The world may define wisdom as the right use of knowledge, yet who determines what is “right”? Not culture, not the times, nor the situation - for what is now accepted may soon be dismissed or condemned in another age. Human wisdom is self-serving and self-contradictory. Proverbs gives us a different starting point. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Wisdom is the result of divine revelation. True wisdom in Scripture is neither intelligence nor brilliant decision-making. Rather, the wise are those who live in right relationship with God and therefore with others. It is morally attuned to God’s holiness and goodness. It is rooted in faith, hope, and love. It results in a lifestyle of obedience and reverence, a walk directed by the fear of God. James echoed this truth, distinguishing two types of wisdom. “The wisdom from above,” he says, “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits.” By contrast, wisdom that is earthly and unspiritual is

607_Trusting God’s way (Prov 3:5-10) Proverbs 3:5-10 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. There is a well-known story of a seasoned mountain guide leading a group through a dense fog. At one point, visibility dropped so severely that the path ahead disappeared entirely. One of the climbers, anxious and uneasy, asked, “Are you sure this is the right way?” The guide replied calmly, “I’ve walked this path many times. You may not see it, but I know where it leads.” The climber then had a choice—to trust his own limited sight or to trust the guide who knew the terrain. That moment captures the essence of what Proverbs calls us to when it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs presents trusting in God not as an emergency measure, not as a last resort when everything else fails, but as a posture of life. Yet, in reality, many people turn to God only after exhausting every other option. In medical emergencies, for instance, prayer is often solicited only when doctors say there is nothing more they can do. God is treated like a backup plan rather than the primary guide. Scripture, however, consistently calls us to a deeper, fuller trust—one that begins not at the end of our resources but at the very beginning of our decisions. The Bible places before us men and women whose lives were shaped by this kind of trust. Hebrews 11 devotes considerable attention to Abraham and Sarah, presenting them as heroes of faith. Abraham’s trust was not theoretical; it was demonstrated in costly obedience. When God called him to leave his country, his relatives, and his father’s house, and to go to a land that God would show him, Abraham stepped into the unknown. He walked away from familiarity, security, and cultural comfort into a strange land among unfamiliar people, guided only by the promise of a faithful God. Scripture tells us that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” His trust was so complete that he burned all bridges behind him. He was convinced that the God who called him was trustworthy and would direct his steps. This resolve is seen clearly later in his life when he instructed the servant of his household to find a bride for his son Isaac. Twice Abraham emphasized, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.” There was no retreat in Abraham’s heart. Even though he lived as a sojourner in the land God promised him and owned nothing there except the

608_The two paths (Proverbs 4:14-19) Proverbs 4:14-19 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. A traveler once came to a fork in the road just as the sun was setting. One path was wide, well-trodden, and busy with many feet moving swiftly. The other was narrow, quiet, and gently sloping upward, barely visible in the fading light. There was no signpost, no voice calling out which way to go. The traveler hesitated, knowing that once he chose a path, turning back would not be easy. Life, in many ways, is lived at such crossroads—not once, but daily. Scripture tells us that since the beginning of creation, humanity has always stood before two paths. In the garden of Eden, those two paths were clearly marked. One was the tree of life, symbolizing dependence on God, obedience, and life flowing from relationship with Him. The other was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representing independence—man deciding for himself what is right and what is wrong, apart from God. When Adam and Eve chose the forbidden tree, they were not merely eating fruit; they were declaring autonomy. They chose a path that said, “We will determine our own way.” The result was separation from God, expulsion from the garden, and the loss of access to the tree of life. God, in His mercy, prevented them from living forever in that fallen state. From that moment onward, humanity has been walking between two paths. This pattern continues throughout Scripture. Cain and Abel stood on different paths. Cain brought an offering shaped by his own effort and understanding, while Abel came by faith, trusting God’s way. One path was marked by self-reliance and resentment; the other by humility and obedience. The difference was not merely in what they offered, but in the posture of their hearts. One led to jealousy and murder, the other to God’s approval. Later, we encounter two cities that reflect these paths. Babel represents humanity’s collective attempt to reach heaven through rebellion and self-exaltation—“Let us make a name for ourselves.” Jerusalem, by contrast, is portrayed as the holy city where God dwells with a people who submit to His will. One city rises in pride and is scattered; the other is built by God and endures. Even Abraham’s household reflects this truth. Ishmael, born according to the flesh, and Isaac, born according to promise, stand as living testimonies that God’s way is not achieved by human striving but received by faith. The book of Psalms opens by confronting

609_A warning against sexual sin (Prov 5) Proverbs 5:1-6 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. 15-17 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. A pastor once shared a story about a man who came to him in deep distress. This man had not committed adultery in the physical sense, at least not as the world defines it. He was faithful in attendance, respected in the church, and devoted to his family. Yet behind closed doors, he carried a hidden habit—hours spent consuming explicit content online. Over time, he noticed a slow erosion in his spiritual life. Prayer became dry, Scripture lost its sweetness, and intimacy with his wife felt strained and hollow. What disturbed him most was not just guilt, but the realization that his heart had been quietly drifting away from God. What he once thought was harmless entertainment had begun to shape his desires, expectations, and loyalties. This quiet collapse of the inner life is precisely what the book of Proverbs warns us about long before the act ever becomes public. Proverbs chapter 5 addresses a subject that is both important and delicate. It is framed as the loving counsel of a wise father speaking to his son, urging him to stay away from the “strange woman,” a term used to describe sexual relationships outside the covenant of marriage. The father is not merely issuing moral rules; he is appealing to wisdom, foresight, and the preservation of life itself. He understands that sexual sin does not announce its destructive power upfront. It begins with flattery, curiosity, and desire, but it ends with regret, bondage, and loss. We live in a world saturated with voices that speak freely—and often falsely—about sex. Movies, advertisements, social media, and popular culture present distorted ideas that separate sexual desire from commitment, responsibility, and holiness. But Scripture offers us a balanced, truthful view straight from the heart of God. When God created man and woman, He created them in His own image and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. This command was given before sin entered the world. Sexual intimacy within marriage was God’s design, a gift meant to unite a man and a woman in covenantal love, trust, and joy. Sin did not create sex; sin corrupted it. When sin entered the world, Satan twisted this God-given gift into a tool for destruction. What was meant to bond has been used to break. What was designed to draw

610_Lessons from the Ant (Proverbs 6:6-11) Psalm 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. On a hot summer afternoon, a pastor once watched a line of ants crossing a footpath near his home. People stepped over them without a second thought. Children ran past. Someone even brushed them away absentmindedly. Yet the ants never stopped. They carried tiny crumbs many times their own size, each one moving with quiet determination. No one shouted orders at them. No whistle blew. No supervisor hovered above them. And yet, every ant knew exactly what to do. The pastor later remarked, “That afternoon, the ants preached a sermon to me without saying a single word.” Scripture tells us that God often teaches His people through what He has already made. Long before classrooms, books, or podcasts, creation itself served as God’s living curriculum. Job reminds us, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you… and the fish of the sea will declare to you” (Job 12:7–8). Jeremiah laments that even birds understand seasons and timing, while God’s people fail to discern His ways (Jer. 8:7). Isaiah goes so far as to say that an ox knows its owner and a donkey its master’s feeding trough, yet Israel does not understand its God (Isa. 1:3). God uses creation not merely to inspire awe, but to expose our neglect of obvious wisdom. It is in this rich tradition that Proverbs 6 invites us to learn a lesson from one of the smallest creatures on earth. “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” The writer does not begin with a lecture, a threat, or a punishment. Instead, he points to an observation. Watch. Consider. Learn. Wisdom, here, is not hidden in abstract ideas. It is visible in everyday faithfulness. The ant quietly embodies what many humans struggle to practice. The audience addressed is the sluggard—the lazy, the procrastinator, the one who delays responsibility. God does not first accuse this person of rebellion or immorality, but of inattentiveness to wisdom that is plainly visible. The ant works “without having any chief, officer, or ruler.” No one forces her. No one supervises her. Her diligence flows from within. This reveals a profound truth: true discipline is internal, not imposed. In our spiritual lives, this distinction matters deeply. Anyone can work hard when watched, pressured, or praised. But spiritual maturity is revealed in what we do when no one is watching. Paul exhorts believers, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Our obedience is not meant to be driven by fear or

611_The test of a teachable heart (Prov 9:7-12) Proverbs 9:7-12 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. There is a story told of a seasoned violinist who had played for decades in concert halls across the world. One day, after a performance, a young student nervously approached him and said, “Sir, I noticed something in the way you held the bow during the second movement. Have you ever considered adjusting it slightly?” Those standing nearby gasped. Who was this student to correct a master? But the old violinist paused, smiled, took the bow again, experimented for a moment, and then said, “You may be right. Thank you for seeing what I missed.” Later, someone asked him why he was willing to listen. He replied, “The day I stop learning is the day my music dies.” That simple moment captures a truth Scripture has been teaching for centuries: the greatest test of the heart is not knowledge, talent, or position, but teachability. Proverbs 9:7–12 places this test squarely before us. It shows us that correction does not merely shape a person; it reveals who they already are. How we respond when confronted, corrected, or challenged exposes the posture of our heart toward God, toward truth, and toward growth. The book of Proverbs gives many ways to discern what lies beneath the surface of a person’s life, but few are as searching as this one. Teachability is something God consistently looks for in a disciple. It is the ability to listen to truth and to change one’s life on the basis of that truth. Teachability assumes humility. It assumes that I may not see everything clearly, that I still need instruction, that God often speaks through others. The teachable heart understands that correction is not an attack but an invitation to grow. In contrast, Proverbs introduces us to the scoffer. A scoffer is not simply someone who lacks information. This person treats truth with contempt. They do not merely misunderstand correction; they resist it, mock it, dismiss it, or even weaponize it. Pride and self-justification dominate their response. Instead of examining themselves, they turn their energy outward, attacking the one who dared to correct them. Correction, for a scoffer, feels like humiliation rather than help. That is why one of the clearest tests of whether a person is teachable or not is how they respond when they are corrected. Scripture gives us a sobering example in King Ahab. When Ahab wanted to go to war,