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Prepare: ‘He rescued me because he delights in me’ (Psalm 18:19). Thank God for rescuing you from certain death today.
Staring death in the face
This is a psalm for anyone who has ever been in serious, life-threatening danger – from enemies or perhaps an illness. The writer has stared death in the face (v 3), pleading with God to spare his life (v 8). With deliverance comes wonderful rejoicing and some of the most memorable images in the Bible (vs 5,11).
But what had brought him to the edge of death? Why had God allowed it? Right in the middle of the psalm, we see the heart of the issue: ‘I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved”’ (v 6). Pride is putting confidence in ourselves ahead of confidence in God. It’s so easy to do when things are going well. But it’s a recipe for trouble, as David discovered.
Delivered from pride
The wisdom books of the Hebrew Bible sound many warnings against pride: ‘In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God’ (Psalm 10:4, NIV); ‘Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18, NIV).
As we’ll read this week, God sometimes chooses to discipline us out of his great love for us. David sees God’s mercy close up here, as he is delivered from pride.
Respond: Ask God to search your heart today for traces of pride that cause you to misplace your confidence.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-19
Staring death in the face
This is a psalm for anyone who has ever been in serious, life-threatening danger – from enemies or perhaps an illness. The writer has stared death in the face (v 3), pleading with God to spare his life (v 8). With deliverance comes wonderful rejoicing and some of the most memorable images in the Bible (vs 5,11).
But what had brought him to the edge of death? Why had God allowed it? Right in the middle of the psalm, we see the heart of the issue: ‘I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved”’ (v 6). Pride is putting confidence in ourselves ahead of confidence in God. It’s so easy to do when things are going well. But it’s a recipe for trouble, as David discovered.
Delivered from pride
The wisdom books of the Hebrew Bible sound many warnings against pride: ‘In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God’ (Psalm 10:4, NIV); ‘Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18, NIV).
As we’ll read this week, God sometimes chooses to discipline us out of his great love for us. David sees God’s mercy close up here, as he is delivered from pride.
Respond: Ask God to search your heart today for traces of pride that cause you to misplace your confidence.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-19
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
