First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge

David says God is "MY" light. "MY" salvation. He uses a personal, intimate pronoun to describe these truths.

• Fear is often the greatest enemy of faithful witness. Daniel didn't let any fear keep him from speaking the truth to the king.
• Nebuchadnezzar had the 5 P’s: The palace, power, pleasure, peace and prosperity.
But the fact that he had those things wasn’t the problem. The problem was, the king believed he achieved all that on his own. He gave himself all the credit and failed to see that it is God who sets up kings and removes kings! His main problem was PRIDE.
• “In everything man does without God, he must either fail miserably or succeed more miserably. The cruelest thing God can do to you is let you succeed and think you did it on your own because you’ll live your life independent of him—and that’s the worst thing that could possibly happen to you.” Mark Bates
• Not only does Daniel speak truth in love to the king, but he offers him a way out. He encourages him to repent (vs. 27).
• “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Reflection question: How might Daniel’s witness to the king shape the way you approach witnessing to others?
• Reflection question: Where in your life has pride prevented you from giving God the credit for what He alone has done?

• Fear is often the greatest enemy of faithful witness. Daniel didn't let any fear keep him from speaking the truth to the king.
• Nebuchadnezzar had the 5 P’s: The palace, power, pleasure, peace and prosperity.
But the fact that he had those things wasn’t the problem. The problem was, the king believed he achieved all that on his own. He gave himself all the credit and failed to see that it is God who sets up kings and removes kings! His main problem was PRIDE.
• “In everything man does without God, he must either fail miserably or succeed more miserably. The cruelest thing God can do to you is let you succeed and think you did it on your own because you’ll live your life independent of him—and that’s the worst thing that could possibly happen to you.” Mark Bates
• Not only does Daniel speak truth in love to the king, but he offers him a way out. He encourages him to repent (vs. 27).
• “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7: 14
• Reflection question: How might Daniel’s witness to the king shape the way you approach witnessing to others?
• Reflection question: Where in your life has pride prevented you from giving God the credit for what he alone has done?

David claims the Lord as his light who exposed his enemies. Even when an army sets up camp and wages war against him, even then, David trusts the LORD who will keep him safe. The LORD, his light, is the solution to his fear.

Psalm 27: 1–6

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

The Creator of the universe offers intimate friendship to us. This is a stunning sentence! He wants to bring us into the circle of trust. To share his heart with us.

Favorite Takeaways:
• The king's proclamation in verses 1-3 was public, peaceful and personal. Our testimonies are meant to be shared!
• How can you make verses 1-3 your own today? What "signs and wonders" has God revealed to you? And who might God want you to share you song of praise with today?
• In all things, we are to SEEK HIM FIRST. His voice should be the loudest and first voice we're listening to.
• What impact would it make in your life, if you were willing to surrender each and every day, for whatever God has for you? May we be inconvenienced for the sake of the kingdom!

This second part of Psalm 25 is where we can put our roots down and get to know even better why Samuel and Paul both called David a man after God's own heart. It's also a place where we can press deeper into Christ and become men and women after God's own heart.

Psalm 25: 8-22

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Oh my God I need you now, but don’t answer based on my deserving. Please answer according to your own character; not mine!

Remember me not according to the sins of my youth but according to the LORD's own character. He is merciful.

The gates to God’s presence only open to Jesus, the one who lived with clean hands and a pure heart. We only get joined to Jesus when we open the gates of our hearts to him. That’s once for all for salvation. That’s also every single day of our lives for fellowship and mission. Lift up your hearts! Jesus declares that the gates will open for both of us, if we go with him. He asks us, urges us to lift up our eyes and see him. The King of glory wants to enter our hearts so he can take us with him into his Father’s presence. That’s eternal life that continues now.