# 14 2021 Dev. Psalm 109:21,22. God’s Care! Read all of Psalm 109 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 109:21,22 “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.²² For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”

Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series. 

Ps.109 is closely connected to Ps.102: both are Psalms of David, both appear to be “imprecatory” Psalms, but 102 is titled “A prayer of an afflicted man…”

Vs. 1-5 is the opening request laying out the conspiracy against him. He appears to cry out, how can this be? “but I am a man of prayer”. As followers of Jesus we are able to identify with the Psalmist; we are people of prayer, we worship, we serve, we do good and desire peace. Yet, there are times in our lives we are overwhelmed with sorrow, with Illness, with conflict and we do not understand why. God’s ways are not our ways but like the Psalmist we continue to lean on our God.

Vs. 6-20 is a long accusation tirade in the first person directed to one person ending with, “May this be the Lords payment to my accusers…”   It may also be a long list of what is happening to the Psalmist or a list of appealing to God to find comfort in the thought of retribution. At times of conflict, opposition, a broken marriage, or relationship we may be tempted to find relief in this way. But God’s way is: “be still before the Lord and wait!”

In vs. 21-25 the psalmist comes back to requesting for help: “Sovereign Lord help me… out of the goodness of your love…” But he is still very concerned about himself, “I am poor, I fade away, I am shaken off like a locust, I am the object of scorn…” We tend to concentrate on ourselves in time of conflict.

In vs. 26-31 the Psalmist request comes all the way back to putting God in the center: “It is your hand” Lord, “May you bless…” Along with the psalmist, when in conflict, we also go through the stages in this psalm but in the end like the psalmist we need to come to this place: “With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.” Praise the Lord, we can count on God’s grace, comfort and protection!

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Light and Dark

# 13 2021 Dev. 1 Jn.2:1,2. Atonement! Read verses 1-14 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

1 Jn.1:1,2 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

John is writing to followers of Jesus in the Roman providence of Asia between AD 85 and 95.  The first two verses is the introduction to chapter two. John’s intention is to encourage us to avoid sin, yet he knows for himself, and for us, that as long as we live in this broken world sin is too much with us.  He therefore reminds us of our advocate, Jesus interceding with the Father and He stands in our place making complete reparations for all our sins. He is capable of forgiving everybody’s sin. It is therefore, a great source of comfort when we confess all our shortcomings. 

In vs. 3-11 John speaks of love and hate. “Whoever says, ‘I know him’, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” John, not only uses contrasting language, he uses strong language as well. Those who hate live in darkness and those who love live in light. Those living in the light of love see the way clearly but those in the darkness of hate are “blinded.” It is not a new command because, love is rooted in God’s love for us, yet, it is new and radical. We are to love all, not only brother and sister but the unlovely, the reprobate and the enemy. That means not to love means to hate, there is no in-between. In today’s world and now also among followers of Jesus, to have a different opinion makes one the enemy, cancel culture is with us, it is the worst kind of hate disguised as righteousness.

Vs. 12-14 is the reason for writing: “I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” He writes to the fathers and mothers, to the young men and women and to the children and it all is repeated for emphasis in v,14. He is writing to us, we are reminded that our love is rooted in God’s love for us, that we live in the light because of the love of God, we live in forgiveness because of God’s love, and we live forever because of the love of God. Amen and Amen!

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# 11 2021 Dev. 1 Jn.1:5. The Light of Life! Read chapter 1 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

1 Jn. 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 

John is writing to followers of Jesus in the Roman providence of Asia between AD 85 and 95.  John tells his people and us today that Jesus is the “Word of life” and “God is light”. He begins as he began his gospel: Jesus as “The Word of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” John is speaking out of experience, he saw the power of Jesus, he saw His love, His grace, His healing and had the privilege to participate along with the Spirit of Jesus throughout His life. What John is telling his people and those of us who follow Jesus that by faith we are also able to experience all that John is telling us. The Word of God is alive, powerful and effective and must be on display in our lives!

John likes to provide opposing images, as in the next section of this chapter: “Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness”. John says you cannot say you have light if you walk in darkness. He is speaking of sin. Is there anyone without sin? John’s answer: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.”

John also is addressing specific heresies that are starting to rise among those who claim to follow Jesus; Gnosticism and Docetism (salvation by true knowledge) and rejecting Jesus as truly man and truly divine) Both of these heresies separate the spiritual from the physical and are opposed to each other. This is still going on today; we are starting to hear that the fall was moral and did not change the physical world at the time, assuming that death was in the garden from the beginning. The Bible disputes that idea; I will quote only one:

Rm. 8: ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” Death and sin was introduced to this world by the fall; forgiveness, salvation and eternal life is introduced to all who believe in the living Word of God. In the end there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. That is our comfort and our hope, Praise be to God!

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# 10 2021 Dev. Psalm 107:2,3. God’s Story! Read all of Psalm 107 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 107:2,3 “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,³ those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south”.^[a

Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series. 

Ps. 107 is about God’s faithful love and His care in different situations written as a story. It also introduces Book V of the Psalter. Vs.1-3 is a call to worship and to give praise for His redemption. Our stories are important, in every twist and turn, in every valley and mountaintop God is with us by the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus.

Vs. 4-8 addresses both our physical situations and our spiritual struggles. “Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.”That is a real issue at that time and in that place. But it is also a metaphor for losing your way in life and for wandering off the path. All of us at one time or an other did not find “a straight way” until God intervened. Now we are heading for that city not built by hands, praise the Lord.

Vs. 9-16 In our journey through this life we make mistakes, sin is too much with us, causing physical or spiritual imprisonment. But there is way out. “They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.” God stands ready to forgive anyone, for any wrong, by believing in Jesus.

Vs. 17-22 repeats the same story: problems of our own making, “they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them;” God’s word, Jesus, and His written Word give life!

Vs. 23-32, the story is repeated: “they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress.” Whatever situation you find yourself, know that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is walking with you, Amen.

Vs. 33-38 contain the main message the Psalmist is giving his people and us, he gives us a contrast that many people have experienced: “He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, ³⁴ and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.” He also gives us the contrast of those who invite God into their story: “³⁵ He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; ³⁶ there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.”

Vs. 39- 43 includes a warning that seems out of place, he is anticipating what so often happens with much prosperity: we of all people should understand from what we are going through right now, God is not only forgotten as our Redeemer, He now is directly opposed by our leaders and cancel culture.

May we all take verse 43 to heart; “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” Amen and amen.

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved 

Psalm 107:2,3 “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,³ those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south”.^[a

# 10 2021 Dev. Psalm 107:2,3. God’s Story! Read all of Psalm 107 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series. 

Ps. 107 is about God’s faithful love and His care in different situations written as a story. It also introduces Book V of the Psalter. Vs.1-3 is a call to worship and to give praise for His redemption. Our stories are important, in every twist and turn, in every valley and mountaintop God is with us by the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus.

Vs. 4-8 addresses both our physical situations and our spiritual struggles. “Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.”

That is a real issue at that time and in that place. But it is also a metaphor for losing your way in life and for wandering off the path. All of us at one time or an other did not find “a straight way” until God intervened. Now we are heading for that city not built by hands, praise the Lord.

Vs. 9-16 In our journey through this life we make mistakes, sin is too much with us, causing physical or spiritual imprisonment. But there is way out. “They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.” God stands ready to forgive anyone, for any wrong, by believing in Jesus.

Vs. 17-22 repeats the same story: problems of our own making, “they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them;” God’s word, Jesus, and His written Word give life!

Vs. 23-32, the story is repeated: “they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress.” Whatever situation you find yourself, know that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is walking with you, Amen.

Vs. 33-38 contain the main message the Psalmist is giving his people and us, he gives us a contrast that many people have experienced: “He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, ³⁴ and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.” He also gives us the contrast of those who invite God into their story: “³⁵ He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; ³⁶ there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.”

Vs. 39- 43 includes a warning that seems out of place, he is anticipating what so often happens with much prosperity: we of all people should understand from what we are going through right now, God is not only forgotten as our Redeemer, He now is directly opposed by our leaders and cancel culture.

May we all take verse 43 to heart; “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” Amen and amen.

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved 

God’s Beautiful Earth!

# 9 2021 Dev. 2 Pe.3. Time’s End! Read chapter 3 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

2 Peter 3:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Chapter three is a summary of both Peter 1 and 2: “I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” to remind people of his day and to remind us of the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of God’s Word. There apparently was an expectation of the end of time among the people and leaders in the early church. They are not the only ones, since this pandemic the end feels to be fast approaching, as at other times in the history of the world. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” unexpected.

Peter titles this chapter “The Day of the Lord”. Today we still have this expectation, it has become part of our Christmas celebrations, we celebrate Jesus’ first coming and expect His second coming, as is promised. The day of the Lord is the day of Judgment when all opportunity to believe in Jesus ends. It is a subject we do not like to think about but Peter encourages us with: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” By God’s grace He wants everyone to have the opportunity to believe. That also is a call to action for the church and gives the followers of Jesus a mandate.

“What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Peter makes the destruction of this earth clear; “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”  But that is not the end; “in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” Transitions bring on a little fear and trepidation. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 is helpful in understanding the transition from the old to the new. As citizens of heaven we know that we do not get there by merit, but by believing in the promise of God, Jesus.

 “¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (The Day of the Lord) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” God is Good!

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God’s Good Earth.

# 8 2021 Dev. Psalm 106:3. God’s Grace! Read all of Psalm 106. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 106:3 “Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.”

Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series. 

Ps. 105 is about God’s faithfulness and Ps. 106 is about the people’s unfaithfulness and God’s Geace.  The song/prayer begins with positive praise and a request for aid, for prosperity, for joy “and join your inheritance in giving praise” vs.1-5. This is a prelude to a long confession of unfaithfulness to God’s grace. This also applies to us, confession of sin and praise for God’s grace go together.

Vs. 6-39 is a multifaceted confession of sins and unfaithfulness.

Vs.6-12 “when our ancestors were in Egypt they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea…” After God saved them and dried up the sea. “Then they believed his promises…” How often have we forgotten all the things God does for us? I speak for myself: my faith has been weak in more than one situation but by God’s grace, I believed His promises and confessed my doubt.

Vs.13-23 shows how quickly the praise and belief vanished, they “did not wait for His (God’s) plan to unfold.” They rebelled again and again, even while God punished them again and again, to no avail. “So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.” We sin again and again and God continues to forgive because Jesus stands in the gap for us, Amen!

Vs. 24-27 “Then they despised the pleasant land;” Are we satisfied with God’s gifts in our lives? Are we satisfied enough to give back to God’s works of outreach and mercy; to have hands on involvement?

Vs.28-33 “They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor…” There was idolatry and immorality. I am sad to say that there still is idolatry in this world and among us; self, possessions, power, sex and food. All this is among us, often we are unaware what really is important to us. This reality affects the people around us and hampers the work of God through the church.

Vs. 34-39 “but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.” This Ps. reminds me of 2 Pe. 2 “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,” ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.” This is happening in our educational institutions and being accepted by many followers of Jesus. What we are facing today is a Neo Gnosticism. Mark my words, the world is too much with us in the church.

Vs. 40-48 “Therefore the Lord was angry with his people.” God punished but He heard their cry of distress, God remembered His people. Along with the Psalmist we say: Lord forgive us, “Save us, Lord God,” and “Let all the people say, ‘Amen’!”

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# 7 2021 Dev. 2 Pe.2. Truth! Read chapter 2. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

2 Peter 2:2. “Many will follow their depraved conduct (false teachers) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”

Peter ends chapter one with the reliability of the prophetic word in the Old Testament. He begins chapter 2 with “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” Peter is addressing the emergence Gnosticism at this time. It is a difficult chapter to read and difficult to apply.

The first 3 verses show the reader how false teachers operate: They will secretly introduce destructive heresies…” they are greedy and “will exploit you with fabricated stories.”  Peter condemns them in no uncertain terms, “their destruction has not been sleeping.”

Vs. 4-10 is a prelude of punishments for failures to the truth but protection for the righteous in the world, beginning with creation; fallen angels including Satan; Noah and the flood. Sodom and Gomorrah is “an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly” but he rescued Lot and family. Peter adds, if God saved those righteous people he will also save you. Peter does not mention any particular sin but he  does say: “This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh^[c] and despise authority.” (see note c)

In vs.13-16 Peter is more specific, “carousing in daylight, adultery, seduce the unstable, experts in greed.” Here he also gives Balaam, God’s prophet as an example, “who loved the wages of wickedness.” He wanted to be paid so he gave the advice, mingled with the Israelites, and in the end we know what happened to him (Joshua 13:22).

In vs.17-22 Peter is even more specific: “they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” New converts: I personally have experienced that travesty more than once and it is devastating. Peter here gives us a quote we need to do some serious thinking about: “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” Once persons taste salvation and latter rejects God’s grace, “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness…” That action grieves the Holy Spirit and is not forgiven. This is a dark chapter but is absolutely applicable today!

I believe there are false teachings in the church of today, I won’t name them nor own them. Think again about this chapter, what do you want to name and own out of what your church believes? May God fill us with the Holy Spirit.

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# 6 2021 Dev. Psalm 105:7. Faithfulness! Read all of Psalm 105. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 105:7 “He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.”

Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series.  

While Ps.104 is all about God’s glory, Ps.105 is about God’s faithfulness. The first 7 verses are the introduction and a call to worship. The first four verses contain ten imperatives. The rest of the Psalm is the main hymn framed by four verses vs. 8-11 containing God’s promises. Also vs. 42-45 containing the fulfillment of God’s promises. God’s promises are still with the followers of Jesus today and God is faithful, He will fulfill His promises to us.

Vs.12-15 God’s care, “when they were few in number… do my prophets no harm.” God chose Abraham to be the father of all believers. “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” Gen 18:18. God chooses us as well but we are strangers on this earth, wanderers, this is not our final home. God’s faithfulness is with us every day.

Vs.16-22 contains the story of Joseph taken to Egypt. Joseph was faithful to his God and God rewarded him by giving him a Christ like role in saving his family and many other people. God is faithful to us as well, even if we experience opposition like Joseph, but the blessings of God to us are sure.

Vs.23-38 includes all of four hundred and thirty years in Egypt. When slavery, persecution and the killing of male children ensued God heard their cry and brought them out using the power of nature to set them free. God is in control of the world, Jesus desires to save the whole world and the Holy Spirit holds all things together until God calls us home and till time and space shall end.

Vs. 39-41 God’s care in the wilderness: guiding them night and day, providing food and water. The psalmist leaves out all the complaining and rebellion, but wants to keep it positive, he is proclaiming God’s faithfulness through all the problems. Is it not that way for us? We are in the wilderness but God is guiding and providing for us. We know the way by the way of Jesus and through all the problems of sin, lack of faith, persecution, and rejection, God is faithful. Amen?

Vs. 42-45 God fulfills His promises: “For he remembers his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.” Theologically speaking we are all children of Abraham, “You will have decedents as many as the sand of the sea” that promise includes us. The promised land is our heavenly home. We will all cross the river. God is faithful and He will take us home. Along with the Psalmist we say: Praise the Lord!

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