October 24 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 73:

¹Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
⁴For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
⁵They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
⁶Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
¹⁵If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou cast them down into destruction.
¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
²⁴Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Devotional

How poor, how weak, how desolate and forsaken can Chris­tians feel sometimes. God seems far off, and all seems dark around about them. Their flesh and their heart faileth. "Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his ten­der mercies?" O, no, that cannot be. Their heart and their flesh crieth out for the living God. "He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." They may have to go through waters and through fire, but when they do, the waters shall not overflow them; neither shall the flame kindle upon them. Though the troubles of their heart are enlarged, yet will God bring them out of their distresses. They can say with the psalmist, "Thou, which has showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again." In the midst of trouble and anguish, God's commandments (his Word) are their delights. They experience what the apostle says, "As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always re­joicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." Who could be richer than they? God is their portion for ever. Thus they are as rich as they can be for time and eternity. But let us note this: "They walk by faith and not by sight."

Though flesh and heart should faint and fail,
The Lord will ever be,
The strength and portion of my heart,
My God eternally.

Prayer

Our Father, though we must pass through much sor­row and tribulation; though we may have to pass through water and through fire, Thou wilt not permit Thine holy ones to perish. Endue them, we pray, with the power of Thy Holy Spirit, and may the fruit of the Spirit be found in them in an abundant measure. Thus may Thy name be honored and glorified. Help all Thy children to rejoice in hope, to be patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer, and be faithful to the end. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Ps. 77:9; 84:2; 55:2; Isa. 43:2; Ps. 25:17; 71:20; 119:143; 2 Cor. 6:9f; Ps. 73:26.

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