Covenant Grove Daily Devotionals

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives. Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in Gods presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. O God, when you led your people out from Egypt, when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land. There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, you provided for your needy people. The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news. Enemy kings and their armies flee, while the women of Israel divide the plunder. Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures doves with wings of silver and feathers of gold. The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon. The mountains of Bashan are majestic, with many peaks stretching high into the sky. Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever? Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there. Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death. But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways. The Lord says, I will bring my enemies down from Bashan; I will bring them up from the depths of the sea. You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share! Your procession has come into view, O God the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary. Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines. Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord, the source of Israels life. Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way. Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali. Summon your might, O God. Display your power, O God, as you have in the past. The kings of the earth are bringing tribute to your Temple in Jerusalem. Rebuke these enemy nations these wild animals lurking in the reeds, this herd of bulls among the weaker calves. Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute. Scatter the nations that delight in war. Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals; let Ethiopia bring tribute to God. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky. Tell everyone about Gods power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭1‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We know Gods character by His actions in history. David recounted stories from the past and from his own life. He told the story of God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt. God came from Mount Sinai to save the Israelites from a chariot attack. In Davids own day, the nations were streaming to the Temple of the Lord to honor His Name. What are the stories from the Bible, history, and your own life that you can keep in mind today?

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows (v.5). This is Gods character. In a world that rages with rebellion against Him, the Lord moves in each heart to call them home to peace.What about the Lords character can you take some time to praise Him for?

May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭67‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This psalm is a prayer for the whole world. It begins with a request for Gods mercy and smile to shine on His people. It then moves to praying for the whole world to know the ways of the Lord. God governs the whole world with justice, though humans seek to twist goodness for their own selfish gain. The heart of the psalmist is for the whole world to praise the Lord (vv.3, 4, 5).

It is not wrong to pray for yourself; the psalms are filled with those prayers. But this psalm invites us to larger prayers for the whole world. In fact, reading the psalms is one way to pray the Word and grow in your prayer life. As you add to your prayer time, you will find yourself living each day in a greater awareness of Gods presence.You will also find yourself being more productive because of Gods power in you His peace gives you power!What are some prayers for the world you can lift up to God today? How can you grow and strengthen your prayer time?

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs. Interlude Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance. Interlude Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance. Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble. That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma, and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats. Interlude Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭66‬:‭1‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This psalm is a call to worship. Shout praises! Sing Gods glory! Tell the world about Him! The author wants the world to know the powerful love of the Lord. He invites people to hear the stories of Gods might, so they can join in the songs of praise. The psalm has the structure of a good prayer or worship service, beginning with prayer, then hearing the works of the Lord, then moving to a response. The psalmist has made vows and will keep them; sin has been confessed. The psalm ends with an invitation to tell others what God has personally done in the authors life.

Pay attention to the pattern shown here. Before we can tell others, we need to experience Gods love. Jesus told us to be His witnesses, and that means we must witness Jesus love and power before we can tell others. Worship is a response to what God has done. Evangelism comes after the experience. Before we can pour out Gods love to others, we must be filled with His love. Most of us move too quickly to obedience, action, or the practical. We say we dont have time for this, but 15 minutes can save hours of frustration during the day. It is worth taking the time to fill up your tank; a car cant go far without fuel.How can you take time daily to get filled up with Gods love? This psalm is an example of praise! What would change in your life if you practiced praising God throughout the day?

What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Poetry is beautiful, but it is harder to understand. When reading poetry (which is frequently in the Bible), make sure you read it more than once. Try to see how the lines connect to each other. The major feature of Hebrew poetry is not rhyme but parallelism. Verse 5 is an example: God faithfully answers prayers; He is the hope of everyone. The book of Psalms is filled with poetry that has shaped countless lives and cultures. You wont remember every word of this psalm today, but can you take one line of this psalm to recite in your head all day long?

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest. This line stood out to me for its poetry and imagery. The whole psalm is about Gods provision: He forgives sins, answers prayers, oversees creation with His power, and provides food. I need so many things, and I often forget to thank the Lord for all He has provided. This verse reminds me to see all God has given and respond with a heart of praise.Which line of this psalm speaks to your heart today?

O God, listen to my complaint. Protect my life from my enemies threats. Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. Who will ever notice? they ask. As they plot their crimes, they say, We have devised the perfect plan! Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning. But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. Then everyone will be afraid; they will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does. The godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him. And those who do what is right will praise him.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lies were being told about David; he didnt play the gossip game but went to the Lord in prayer. He waited for the words of the liars to bring about their own downfall. David learned the importance of going to God first.

There is a great lesson to learn from the psalms: we can write down our problems. Journaling can be a form of prayer. David didnt share every detail of his struggles with others; in fact, he was often alone or on the run. He wrote down his prayers as psalms, and this allowed him to reflect over and over on the major events of his life. We can do this as well. Most of us are not poets, but our prayers can be written down as reflections on our lives. Journaling is a powerful spiritual habit. Writing helps us process our thoughts, and it gives us the ability to go back and remember not only what happened but how we thought about it.

There is another huge benefit to journaling with Jesus: we get to process our thoughts with God before we spill our raw emotions onto others. This benefits us and everyone in our lives. We need to share our lives with others, but the Lord is our first refuge and strength. We dont have to journal every dayonce a week or month is fine. Consider giving journaling a try. Set aside time and stick to it. Dont just write when things are badwrite out the highs and lows of life. Finally, make sure you journal with Jesus. This is more than just scribbling thoughts; it is processing with your Savior.What stands out or surprises you about Psalm 64?

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David was hiding in the desert, on the run for his life. His mind must have been racing, but he didnt focus on himself. He focused on the Lord. His soul (in the desert) thirsted for God more than water. He didnt know how long he would live, but he promised to praise his King with songs of joy. Even when he was on the run, David continued to focus on his Savior, constantly worshiping his God.

The psalms make it clear that we can complain to God. Lament, anger, and frustration are part of a relationship with the Lord. This psalm challenges us in a different directioncan you praise the Lord even when you are in the desert? Can you have peace even when the future is uncertain? Will you stay focused on God in a world with millions of distractions? The answers to these questions determine our levels of joy, peace, and hope. Go back through those three questions and make a commitment to consistency with Christ.As you reflect on the three prior questions, which one will strengthen your faith as you commit to living it out today?

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man all of them trying to kill me. To them Im just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Interlude Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. Dont make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, dont make it the center of your life. God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David hit a low point. He deeply loved people (and the ladies a little too much), but he had gotten to the point where he realized that only God is consistently faithful. David had many enemies trying to kill him; they smiled to his face with daggers in their hearts (v.4). David knew that peoplerich or poor, high or lowcannot be consistently counted on. He trusted in the Lord as his Rock, and that is what made all the difference in his life. Though experiencing many sorrows, David won many victories. He was a king who grew the faith of his nation, secured the borders, and died in peace. Because he trusted in the Lord more than people, his life and writings changed the world.

We all need others we can consistently count on. And we are wired to receive perfect love. Have you lived long enough to realize that others cant love you perfectly and wont be consistent? You are not perfect, either. The only solution is to look to the Lord. When we have the perfect faithfulness of God, we can have more grace for the inconsistency of others. Dont look last to the Lord; build your life on Him first.What would it look like for you to look to the Lord first?

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! May he reign under Gods protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thankfully, most of us have not gone through what David went through. He prayed for God to rescue him, even though he was so far from home it felt like the ends of the earth. We know of two times David was on the run: when he was young and King Saul was trying to kill him, and when he was older, and his son Absalom was hunting him. Davids life had many ups and downs, but there was one constant: his love for the Lord. His heart for his Savior and his gift of poetry led him to write down his prayers as psalms, and billions of people have been encouraged by reading these prayers. God took Davids struggles and used them to bless countless lives.

God didnt want Absalom to hunt David, and He does not send evil into our lives. Bad things come from bad choices, and creation itself is in a state of brokenness, waiting to be renewed and redeemed. God is our Redeemer and Rescuer. Yet He doesnt stop every problem from entering our lives; He teaches us to rely on His strength and trust in His word. He recycles the trash thrown into our lives. He uses the bricks thrown at us to build us stronger. There will be pain in life; that is guaranteed. It is also guaranteed that God will use that pain to build us up, strengthen our faith, and bless othersif we will let Him.What are the struggles in your life now? How might God be using those struggles to strengthen your faith? What does God want you to do?

You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor. You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks, for the land trembles. You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling. But you have raised a banner for those who fear you a rallying point in the face of attack. Interlude Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power. God has promised this by his holiness: I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh, too. Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors, and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings. But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia. Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will bring me victory over Edom? Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies? Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. With Gods help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Each of us has an infinite number of details inside our souls. This psalm is about a battle fought by King David. It is described in 2 Samuel 8, but that chapter does not include some of the details included in this psalm. Davids forces faced difficulties and defeats, and he cried out to the Lord for mercy. He prayed for the Lord to rescue His people and to bring victory. It was only with Gods help that they could be victorious.

The author of 2 Samuel didnt include this detail because every detail cant be included in every story. Yet God knows every detail of our lives. The Lord listens and understands every fact and feeling, down to the most intricate detail. He has infinite time to hear our storieseven the long version. Yet so often we dont take the time to tell Him. We are disappointed that others dont have the time or want the details. We go through life feeling lonely and disconnected. This psalm carries a great lesson: give God the long version. Pour out your heart to Him.How can you increase the prayer time in your life?

Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers. They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them. I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me. Wake up! See what is happening and help me! O Lord God of Heavens Armies, the God of Israel, wake up and punish those hostile nations. Show no mercy to wicked traitors. Interlude They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. After all, who can hear us? they sneer. But Lord, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations. You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. Dont kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield. Because of the sinful things they say, because of the evil that is on their lips, let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies. Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. Interlude My enemies come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. They scavenge for food but go to sleep unsatisfied. But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭59‬:‭1‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dont miss the details of this psalm. Saul sent men to kill David. Yet David asked the Lord NOT to kill these sneering, snarling men. He prayed they would be captured and brought to their knees before the Lord, so they would learn their lesson and change. When people are attacking you, how can you pray FOR them?

Davids life was being threatened, yet he chose to sing about Gods power and love. Gods love is unfailing. The Hebrew word is hesed; it means faithful love. Gods love is steadfast, strong, and never-ending. Even in the hardest times of life, the Lord will stand with us. He will never leave or forsake us. Though we are threatened and struggle, Gods love never fails.

How can this give you confidence today?