​And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, 3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the Lord. 5 And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting, 6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the Lord that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 9 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys 10 (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung--12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

13 “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt, 14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be killed before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting, 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the Lord, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar. 20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.

22 “When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 23 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish,24 and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. So the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.

27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

32 “If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish 33 and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the Lord's food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

Meditation
The resistance of middle school boys to general standards of cleanliness in their room or with their body illustrates the entropy of humanity and general resistance to cleansing. Without outside intervention, life moves to uncleanliness and dis-order.  God’s sovereign grace is greater than our sin or contentedness in our sin. God’s love invites us to see the death of Jesus as both salvation and the path to sanctification, forgiveness and freedom towards restoration- lives renewed by Christ’s sacrifice and re-ordered by His mercy (Romans 12:1-2).
 
The purification offering is the fourth of five offerings in Leviticus. The offering cleansed people from ritual and personal impurity, intentional and unintentional sins, and was repeated regularly to purify people for personal relationship with God.  This atoning sacrifice was how a people dirty with sin were cleansed, having all their iniquity washed away (Psalm 51:2), to begin again with a life re-ordered by God’s mercy.
 
The people brought an animal without defect to be slaughtered by the priest who performed the blood rights and burning ritual. There were two presentation methods, one for leaders and citizens and the other for priests and the congregation. Both covered intentional and unintentional sins. God’s provision through the purification offering is for His people to be cleansed for an re-ordered relationship with Him!
 
Jesus is the ultimate purification offering who through one single sacrifice has perfected for all time those who believe and are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). By Christ’s sacrifice believers are cleansed. By God’s Spirit believers are being sanctified, re-ordered by grace to reflect our Savior.
 

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from this chapter, especially the scope of the cleansing?
 
-The prayer of David to be cleansed from sin (Psalm 51) meets the provision of God in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Take a moment to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness and be cleansed.
 
-Where does God’s forgiveness need to free you toward sanctification?  In view of God’s mercy, where do you need to renew your life to look like more like Jesus?  Take a minute to ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond to God’s cleansing sacrifice by re-ordering your entire life.
 
Key Verse
35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the Lord's food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

​ 
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. 2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
 
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
 
6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace invites us to step outside of our story to see our life from Jesus’ perspective. The gospel of Jesus invites believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4), transforming troubles into treasure and problems into praise. 
 
When David was on the run from King Saul he sought refuge from Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21). Doeg, a vigilante loyal to Saul, spotted David and posed a threat. Doeg would eventually kill the priest and all who were present- A tragic slaughter.
 
David’s Psalm laments the work of evil Doeg, contrasting his dark scheme of death with the steadfast love and sovereignty of God. Doeg trusted in Saul. Those who trust in the Lord will be secure in the love of God forever and ever (8).
 
David writes this song of worship while on the run for his life, in a wilderness, after being anointed king. David is grateful for God’s faithfulness, trusting God completely. Though still in difficult circumstances, David’s strength to endure comes from God’s proven protection, proclaiming- “You have done it!”
 
David’s patient faith, waiting for the fullness of God’s presence and promise, fuels praise. 

Eyes of faith see God’s faithfulness as a completed action, as if He has already provided, rescued, delivered, healed, heard, protected… The finished work of David’s greater Son fuels faith to pray, He “has done it!” even before we can see it. Radical trust in God and His promises helps us step out of our story to see how Jesus is working all things for His glory.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in the transition from 1-5 to the praise of 6-9?
 
-How does total trust in God’s faithfulness offer you a new perspective, seeing how God has been faithful in the past and knowing He will be faithful in the future?
 
-Thanksgiving will arise from a heart of one who walks with eyes of faith. Look at your difficulty and start thanking God for His deliverance, provision, healing, rescue… with specificity. He is faithful and He has done it!
 
Key Verse
9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

 Israel is a luxuriant vine
    that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
    the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
    he improved his pillars.
2 Their heart is false;
    now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
    and destroy their pillars.
 
3 For now they will say:
    “We have no king,
for we do not fear the Lord;
    and a king—what could he do for us?”
4 They utter mere words;
    with empty oaths they make covenants;
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
    in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
    for the calf of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests--
    those who rejoiced over it and over its glory--
    for it has departed from them.
6 The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
    as tribute to the great king.
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
    and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.
 
7 Samaria's king shall perish
    like a twig on the face of the waters.
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
    shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
    on their altars,
and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”
    and to the hills, “Fall on us.”

9 From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;
    there they have continued.
    Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?
10 When I please, I will discipline them,
    and nations shall be gathered against them
    when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
11 Ephraim was a trained calf
    that loved to thresh,
    and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
    Judah must plow;
    Jacob must harrow for himself.

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
    reap steadfast love;
    break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
    that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 You have plowed iniquity;
    you have reaped injustice;
    you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
    and in the multitude of your warriors,
14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
    and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
    mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
    because of your great evil.
At dawn the king of Israel
    shall be utterly cut off.
 
Meditation
What is planted in our souls reveals where our faith is focused- and we will reap what we sow! When repentant hearts refocus our faith on our redeeming Husband and His love, believers “sow to the Spirit (and) will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8). 
 
Hosea and Paul agree- We reap what we sow (12). If you want to know what you are sowing, examine the focus of your faith and discern the fruit of your life. Hosea diagnosed Israel’s misplaced faith that focused on idols in their prosperity (1) and resulted in hard hearts (2) and rejection of God as king (3). The result was planting iniquity, reaping injustice, and eating the fruit of lies (13). God’s prescription was judgment as severe as other nations, (4-11) a severe threat serving as a gracious invitation to repent and return to His love.
 
Hosea describes a penitent heart returning to God as planting righteousness and reaping steadfast love. God desires to shower His people with grace, “raining righteousness” on them (12). Grace like rain is the means by which Holy Spirit fruit is nourished in the believer’s life.
 
Jesus took the judgement we deserve so our faith can be refocused on Him- His word and His work. A new heart comes when believers return to Jesus as king, a tilled soul ready to plant righteousness by walking in God’s Word. Fruit of returning to God’s steadfast love will grow from our hearts and be seen in lips, lives, and labor. Grace like rain falls from Heaven through Jesus and His covenant love. 

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the invitation to examine what you are reaping and sowing? What are you planting in your life? 
 
- What seeds are you sowing in the soil of your soul by where you are focusing your faith? What fruit do you see in your life? 
 
- Where do you need to repent, removing the focus of your faith from things of this world, turning from planting seeds of the flesh? Take a minute to refocus your faith on Jesus and His work, discerning where you need  plant the word of life in the soil of your soul.
 
Key Verse
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

​If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. 2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar.3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.5 Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, 8 lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.

12 “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord 13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the Lord, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord's. 17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”

Meditation
God provides sacrifice for Him to fellowship with His people- celebrated with a meal.
 
God’s desire to fellowship with His people is the story of Scripture, from walking the garden with Adam and Eve to the wedding supper of the Lamb in the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 19:1-6). For this reason, at the Last Supper Jesus focused on the New Covenant sealed with His blood, Divine desire to dwell with disciples signified with a meal the night before Jesus’ sacrificial death (Luke 22:20). A fellowship meal is where Jesus restored Peter (John 21). 
 
The fellowship offerings came from the herd (1-5) or the flock (6-16). The person making the offering needed to know what to eat (17), how to leave the best part of the “unblemished” sacrifice on the altar for the Lord (3-4). God wants the good stuff of the sacrifice (the fat!?!-16) but sees the best stuff being restored fellowship with His people.  
 
The fellowship offering accompanied the grain offering and celebrated peace between the Lord and His people (9). God redeemed His people for relationship with Him, former slaves who become sons through covenant relationship. God restores relationship through sacrifice and enjoys fellowship through a meal, the means of God to nourish believers through His gracious, spiritual, presence.
 
Three parties feasted in fellowship- God, people making the offering, and the priest. Our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, puts all three together by becoming the sacrifice so we can feast on Him for fellowship with God. 
 
God Himself was the sacrifice for Him to fellowship with His people.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the sacrifice participation over eating the fellowship offering, relationship between God, the people, and the priest celebrated?
 
-Are you intimidated or invited by God’s passionate plan to restore fellowship with His people? Does your life reflect your answer?
 
-Jesus has done everything necessary for you to feast on fellowship with God. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, wanting to eat with you (Revelation 3:20). What specific ways can you honor this gracious invitation and open your heart to feast with the King?
 
Key Verse
16 … All fat is the Lord's.

​“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Meditation
Christian discipleship is lived from a secure identity, children of God who have received righteousness from the Son of God to  live righteously to glorify our Father.

Children of the Father are not to practice righteousness “as the hypocrites” (2, 5, 18) or unbelieving peoples (7) who perform for acceptance and approval. True righteousness is not for empty public display but from deep personal relationship with our Heavenly Father (1). When disciples give (2-4), pray (5-15), or fast (16-18) we do so in secret, in closets, and with joyful dispositions. Disciples do not practice righteousness for the approval of other people. Real righteousness lives for the reward of rich relationship with God.
 
Disciples focus on our Father and seek first His kingdom (10, 33). Disciple’s trust our Father for our daily bread (11), so we need not store up treasures on earth (19) or worry about our life (25). Our hearts are in our Father’s hands so we serve Him rather than money (24), trusting Him to provide (30), rather than toil and be troubled over unanswered questions and an uncertain future. Our Father promises to protect and provide for His children.
 
People outside our Father’s family are consumed with other people’s opinions of them, their positions in society, serving money as a master, and pursuing the provisions of the world. Disciples are free in our Father’s love and we know our Father will deliver us from all evil (13).
 
Righteous living is a result of a right standing with our Father, a secure identity as His children.

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the contrast Jesus draws in His teaching between disciples living as secure children of the Father and the hypocrites and Gentiles?
 
-How does a secure identity as a child of God free you from worldly anxiety and the slavery of seeking prosperity of this world? Are you embracing this gift of security? Why or why not?
 
-Where do you need to live more distinct from people outside our Father’s family, especially in regards to where your treasure is and how you traverse the troubles of the world? Be specific.
 
Key verses
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

​And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.2 He said,
 
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 5 “For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; 6 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 7 “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.
 
8 “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 9 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. 10 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. 11 He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. 13 Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them. 16 Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
 
17 “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. 18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. 21 “The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. 26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
 
32 “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? 33 This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. 34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. 37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip; 38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed. 39 I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet.

40 For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. 41 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them. 42 They looked, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. 43 I beat them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets. 44 “You delivered me from strife with my people; you kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. 45 Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

46 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.47 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, 48 the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, 49 who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence. 50 “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 51 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
 
Meditation
God alone saves and God’s people sing praises for His great salvation. David’s song of deliverance (1) is a reflection of his life in the form of celebration of God and His salvation, necessarily pointing to the greater King who was born to save His people from sin (Matthew 1:21) and who eternally sits on David’s throne (Luke 1:33).

Today’s chapter parallels Psalm 18 and is bookended with praise: God is our rock, refuge, strength, shield, salvation, stronghold, and savior. God is the great king who shows steadfast love to His people and makes His name great among the nations (2-4; 47-51). God alone gets praise for His deliverance.
 
The song shares both God’s and David’s perspectives on deliverance. God’s perspective (5-20) reveals compassion to hear us when we cry to Him. God sends help from on high! David’s perspective (29-46) celebrates God and His character. God is a lamp whose way is perfect and whose word proves true. God is worthy of our trust and God will give us what we need.
 
The center of the song celebrates God’s motive (21-25). God delivers us because of our relationship with Him. God is faithful to His covenant people and His covenant promises. God hears. God loves. God saves.
 
David joins the chorus of nations when singing of God’s great salvation (50-51), a historic fact and present invitation. As recipients of God’s salvation through King Jesus’ work, believers join the eternal chorus of singers from every tribe, tongue and nation who shout in acclimation, “Salvation belongs to our God!” (Revelation 7:10)
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the praises for God’s great salvation?
 
-Do you know God’s salvation through the finished work of King Jesus? If so, do you sing praises for His work or maximize your work and miss His gracious invitation to sing praise for your salvation?
 
-Take a moment to pause and reflect on the length God has gone to save you from your sin and deliver you from the penalty of sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate in your soul a desire to sing of His salvation with your lips, life, labor, and loves.
 
Key Verse
50 “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 51 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”