Psalm 39 houses the Text I’d like to share with you this morning. Verse 3 of that inspired Hymn speaks: “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue.”

Spiritual principles galore spring from this complex sentence!

The “heart” in Hebrew (spelled “leb”) speaks of a person’s “inner life.” Where one “thinks,” more than where one “feels” really. The verb “was hot” literally means “enflamed,” or “on fire for God” in today’s vernacular anyway.

One’s heart is made “hot” by the fluttering of the Holy Spirit and by the empowering, fervent impact of God’s Word … when observed and pondered day and night.

Note that a “hot” heart, not a “lukewarm” one, also “muses” over the things of God! This rare verb (only found 2 times in the whole Old Testament) once means “to meditate.”

Yes, such treasuring of God’s Word within one’s heart will set it “afire!” Jeremiah had it “burning even within his bones!”

The Psalmist is like a old country kettle set on a roaring gas burner, about ready to explode with fervency for God!

Then … when he can contain it no longer … he “speaks!” Bot he did not even open his mouth until he was ready! The verb is “dabar,” to speak with logic and forethought and preparation! Not to simply “blab!”

Fellows, do not preach if your heart is not ablaze!

When Paul wrote young Timothy to “stir up” the gift of God in his life, his calling to preach, the Apostle used this verb, a blend: “anazopureo.” meaning “make the fire stay alive” in you! Yes, “pur” is the Greek word for fire!

Practicing this Verse in Psalm 39 makes speaking for God (preaching, teaching, witnessing) actual “overflow” of the steam engine God has placed within you … as you ingested His Word and Spirit and Love, etc.

Praise the Lord!

“My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue.”  (To be practiced, tested in daily life. With great benefit … and great power as one speaks!)

Grant it, dear Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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God knows our hearts, period!

No doubt about that.

But some Christians even invite Him to “inspect” the inner resources of their hearts, their innermost beings!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” So prayed David in Psalm 139:23.

Which leads me to today’s Verse. Where another prayer, this time from Psalm 38, is being voiced to the Lord. Still David (a man after God’s Own Heart) being the petitioner, makes a riveting statement ….

“Lord, all my desire is before thee.”

Just that!

The Hebrew noun “desire” here is spelled “taavah” and means “the longings of one’s heart.” It also means “one’s appetites!” In fact, it is once translated “lust” in our King James Bible.

Stunning!

I plan to remind myself every day (though I am already aware of the matter) that … the Lord sees and “weighs” my every desire!

Yes, Isaiah 26:7 … “Thou (Lord), most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.” My “path” being the “ways, desires, longings” of my heart and soul!

Do you (do I) ever have desires that might not be pleasing to Him?

Do we want to be “unashamed” before Him at His Coming? (Quoting part of 1 John 2:28!)

Then, surely one way to accomplish that noble goal is to remind oneself daily (hourly, constantly) that …

“All our desires are before Him!”

Wow!

I am amazed.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Reading Psalm 37 just a little while ago, I again came across this precious Verse: “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”(Psalm 37:5)

“Commit” is a Hebrew verb (“galal”) meaning “to roll something” onto a person. Or “to roll it off!”

“Way” (“derek”) means one’s “manner” of life. The “route” you’re taking day by day. One’s “lifestyle.”

“Trust” (“batach”) means to have so much “confidence” in a person that all worry is gone, no fretfulness remains at all.

The Verse is clear, if I commit and trust my life to the Lord … pursuing that kind of godly behavior … HE WILL … bring it to pass! The “bring to pass” word is “asah,” He will “do” it, “make it happen!” Even the Pronoun “He” is emphatic here, boldly expressed!

Now I have a question?

WHAT will my trust and reliance (on the dear Lord) bring to pass? What’s the “it” of our Verse?

“Bringing something to pass” sounds to me like an “answered prayer!” A “fulfilled desire!” A “deep longing” met within a person’s heart!

There you have it, folks … another Biblical way of praying … with one’s very life, his or her pure conduct! (Of course such is only possible with the Aid of the Holy Spirit.)

Then the Lord showed me the previous Verse, its last few words … “He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Wow!

That’s what godly living will do, allow God to furnish you with the very “desires” of your heart! (Not the desires or requests of your mouth, but of you heart! No words may have been involved!)

This kind of trust insures God performing Psalm 68:19 for a Believer, a Christian … “daily loading us with His benefits.”

Selah … stop and ponder this a while!

Then one more thing … Psalm 37:6, the very next verse in sequence … just might amplify those “heart desires” of a growing child of God, a mature saint. “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”

Astounding!

Enhancing one’s testimony!

I shall never look at Psalm 37 the same again!

“Thanks unto Thee, O Lord, for a profitable time in Thy Word this morning. And the opportunity to share my findings with a few friends in Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 36 gives us one of the Bible’s many descriptions of a “wicked man.” At least its opening and closing verses do so.

One trait that impressed me late last night was … “He deviseth mischief upon his bed.” Psalm 36:4

The verb “deviseth” is “chashab” in Hebrew and means “to think, to imagine, to conceive” and even “to count” a few times. The Hebrew word’s “imperfect” sense of tense, sense of action, suggests this is not a one-time act of the wicked man’s part. He deviseth mischief night after night, habitually!

The noun “mischief” is “aven,” and means “wickedness, iniquity, unrighteousness.”

The verb has a root meaning which suggests “panting,” implying enjoying those sinful thoughts with great delight! With rapture even, getting excited (breathing hard) over such (evil) prospects!

This man at night (in his bed) plans his next sinful venture!

Now let’s contrast him with the godly man! Specifically at night I mean, when going to sleep.

Here’s one report, by a Psalmist … “I remember Thee (Lord) upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6

See the differnce?

David too, if you believe he wrote Psalm 119:62 … “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

The point being, what occupies your mind (and mine as well) as we lay down to rest?

Evil imaginations?

Or godly thoughts?

A good idea: start going to bed with a Scripture verse on your mind, on you heart. And mentally roll it over again and again, pondering its truths. Do this until sleep comes!

Nearly` guaranteed … if you will begin this habit, meditating on the Word of God at night … the Lord just might surprise you with a host of blessings!

He just might “plant” you by the rives of waters, and give you spiritual “fruit” season after season, sparing you from ever “withering” as a Christian. And additionally, He can make you prosper in innumerable ways! (Yes, Psalm 1:1-3 says as much!)

Just based on what you do at night, “on your bed!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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We sing “Onward Christian Soldiers.”

And “I want to die on the Battlefield.”

And “When the Battle’s Over, I Shall Wear a Crown!”

Among many other Hymns that depict the Christian life as a struggle.

Paul taught us to “put on the whole armour of God,” to better overcome the Devil.

Jesus depicted the Cross of Calvary as a Confrontation. “Who will contend with me? Let us stand together: Who is mine adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.” Isaiah 50:8-9, Jesus previewing His Death on that Tree of Torture!

And this old world will end (before the Lord creates it as a new earth) in the Battle of Battles! “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city … (to fight) … and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

Revelation’s very next verse … “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. “

Then the Bible prophesies … “no more war, no more fighting!”

But until that day … Paul wrote Timothy to prepare himself for the war! “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

And … “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies (Scripture) which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.” 1 Timothy 1:19

Wow!

But keep in mind, we can never overcome the enemy on our own. We need the Lord’s Help!

And that brings me to the verse the Lord used today to prompt this Devotional, this Bible Study.

Just an excerpt from Psalm 35:1 … “O Lord, fight against them that fight against me.”

That’s powerful!

Asking God Himself to fight against them who seek your destruction, seek your detriment, harm!

Literally turning those enemies over to the God Who knows how to judge in all righteousness and wisdom!

That’s where I want to leave you today. Pondering this ineffable Request … “FIGHT AGAINST THEM THAT FIGHT AGAINST ME!”

Somehow there’s peace in that little prayer!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And I can pray this with all Bible Authority!

The full Context in which our Truth is located … “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them.”

Amazing!

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