August 25 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These meditations are on the psalms. All those songs about Zion, the temple, and the Son of David really make sense when they are sung In the New Testament church.

Bible Reading:

Psalm 92

Bible Text:

They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age (Ps. 92:13–14).

Devotional:

This psalm compares human life to the plants and trees of the field. The wicked are compared to grass (v. 7), and in Palestine grass does not flourish. It's here today and withered tomorrow. But the righteous are compared to palm trees and cedars (v. 12), which represent longevity. They are symbols of eternal life, "planted in the house of the LORD" (v. 13).

Trees must bear fruit. As trees of the Lord, we bear fruit by honoring our Maker and helping others. This is the purpose of life.

The Old Testament has little to say about the hereafter; it's more concerned with the here and now. Right now, the psalm says, it is already clear who has life and who doesn't. The wicked are like grass, but the righteous are like fruit-bearing trees. They feed on the covenant mercies of God. They bear fruit in old age.

Every age has its temptations. Teenagers certainly have temptations, but senior citizens have them too. Seniors especially like to remind each other of how good things used to be and how poor everything has become. Seniors must therefore pray, Lord, keep my tongue from complaining about church and government. Keep me rooted in your house, grounded in your love. Then my mouth will offer fruits of praise. And my steps will leave a trail that others will want to follow.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.