David, apparently in some type of danger, speaks of Almighty God in Psalm 7, almost as if the Lord was his Friend! Or maybe even more than a Friend. You decide …

One short Line from that Passage distinctly spoke to my heart early this morning, “My defence is of God.”

Verse 10 of Psalm 7, word for word in the King James Bible … “My defence is of God.”

The noun “defence” is spelled “magen” in Hebrew. It is defined as a “shield,” in a military sense.

But with this nuance. Two types of shields are mentioned in antiquity. One is smaller and used in hand to hand combat. The other (“magen”) is larger and covers the body much more sufficiently. (Its root verb means “to cover” or “to surround!”)

So … the Lord is my BIG SHIELD, David reasons!

My Protector!

(Think of David’s battle with Goliath!)

Wow!

Now … in the New Testament the Lord Jesus is also our Protector, not in a martial sense but in a legal sense.

Let me show you …

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1

The Greek noun for advocate is “parakletos,” meaning a lawyer! A defense attorney!

A legal SHIELD!

David in the Old Testament, you and me in the New Testament … SAFE IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(Just a quick Bible thought from a motel room in Chesapeake, Virginia. Where in about five hours I will be preaching in the first Service of a four day Revival Meeting. Pray for us please …)

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I am late today writing the Lesson. I’ve driven home from preaching a sweet North Carolina Revival. Debbie has things about ready, and we leave again in a few hours.

The Title of today’s Devotional Though is derived from Psalm 6:2 … “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak.”

Strong self-sufficient, proud people never ask for mercy! They, of course, don’t need it!

But “weak” folks sure do!

In Hebrew the word “weak” used here is spelled “umlal.” It basically means “feeble,” or “languishing” or even “drooping!” It is used only here in the entire Old Testament!

The verb “have mercy” translates “chanan,” meaning at its very root “to bend down!” I love that word picture!

For God to have mercy on me, asking that of Him in prayer, is really pleading with Him “to come down and help!”

In the Bible this “Mercy Prayer” is the most frequent petition lifted Heavenward to Almighty God … seeking His Mercy!

His “kindness and love and pity!”

One man prayed this (begging for Mercy) and was saved by the Grace of God! “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I (Jesus is talking) tell you, this man went down to his house justified .”

So IF you need His Mercy … remind yourself how “weak” you are! Then humbly APPROACH the Throne of Grace!

I suspect you will get the Mercy you need!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Here’s an example of an invitation “from” the Lord … “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18… an invitation that had best be heeded, I might add!

Now, here’s an example of an invitation “to” the Lord. “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.” Psalm 5:1, words penned long ago by King David.

Have you ever thought about inviting the Lord to sit in and listen to every thought you have?

(I do realize that God is omniscient, knowing everything … including what I say or think. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16, clear proof of what I just said!)

But still, a human being WANTING, INVITING the Lord God of the universe to “tune in” to every word spoken!

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.”

Wow!

That noun “meditation” (spelled “hagiyh” in Hebrew) essentially means one’s “thoughts,” one’s “musings” say our King James translators.

And the verb “consider” means to plumb the depths (and motives and intentions) of one’s heart and soul and mind! “Biyn” means “to discern,” or better yet, “to understand.”

Granted, after David invites the Lord to “listen in,” he proceeds to pray. But the fact mains that the whole Psalm (Psalm 5) includes promises (“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up’) and “precepts” (“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee”) and “convictions” (“Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness”) as well as “prophecies” (“The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity; Thou shalt destroy them”) and a great “statement of faith” (“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous”).

Basically the whole gamut of human thought!

And when a man thinks like this … this nobly and godly … he can have liberty asking the Lord to “give ear!”

Elsewhere in Scripture we are told that the Lord thinks of us, about us! “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17 … this is a man “tuning in” on God’s very thoughts!

But asking Him (the great Creator and Redeemer) to “tune in” on our thoughts … sounds exciting to me, and challenging!

One more time …

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.”

And one more … Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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They seem like two completely unrelated terms, don’t they?

Pressure … meaning hard times, difficult situations, heavy loads.

Diamonds … precious stones held in high esteem by most of mankind.

Yet science tells us this is a fact.

I quote an online academic source: “Diamonds and coal are both, at their base, different forms of the element carbon (C on the periodic table). And pressure is indeed a key part of what turns decaying carbon-based life forms such as plants into coal, as well as what turns carbon into diamonds.”

Now let’s turn from the physical aspect of God’s Creation to the spiritual side of His Doings.

It is also true that God often uses the “pressures” (the hard times and difficult circumstances) of life to produce within us “gold,” and maybe “fine gold” at that!

Listen to the Patriarch Job: “But He (the Lord) knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me (pressure), I shall come forth as GOLD.” Job 23:10

Wow!

The Apostle Paul now tells us: “For our light affliction (pressure), which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (gold).” 2 Corinthians 4:17

God sends us through the fire to purify us! To build us! To purify us! To beautify us!

Now let’s go to the Psalms!

“O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me (maturity, purity, like gold) when I was in distress (under pressure).” Psalm 4:1

Again … “It is good for me that I have been afflicted (pressure); that I might learn thy statutes (better than gold).” Psalm 119:71

Even Jesus, when on earth two thousand years ago! “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience (gold, pure gold) by the things which he suffered (pressure).” Hebrews 5:8

Christian friends, let us not waste our trials, the pressures God allows us to endure, sends our direction!

Let’s obediently and humbly turn turn into profit!

Like … “gold, silver and precious stones.” 1 Corinthians 3:12

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The King James Bible is amazing. Even its phraseology I love. And today’s Thought is an example.

King David is praying: “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3

Yes, God is our Shield. (Here the Holy Spirit is using he Hebrew word for a huge protective covering that virtually surrounds the front of one’s body!) God, our Protector!

And yes, God is our Glory! (The noun means something very important, very heavy to our minds and hearts and lives, appreciable!) He is the most important Person in our lives!

But yes as well … “O LORD, Thou art THE LIFTR UP OF MY HEAD.”

That’s what has caught my attention this morning. He is my powerful “Lifter Up!” Giver of strength!

The word construction “lifter up” translates the verb “rum,” which means “to rise, to exalt, to hold up!” (It’s pronounced “room.”) And it is here framed as a Hiphil participle. This indicates that there is a “cause,” a “reason” that God is so encouraging us, so fortifying us. (Because we are His children, in His Family!) It also being a participle hints at “ongoing action.” He does not “lift us up” just once, or just a few times” … but habitually!

Wow!

In fact, one way of looking at the Ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the very day we live … is that He is God’s Divinely Sent “Lifter Up” of our heads and hearts and spirits … time and time again!

Jesus’ favorite Name for the Holy Spirit was “Comforter.” One who gives us strength and aid and courage!

Yes, that is “lifting up” for sure!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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