Psalm 65 opens (in verse 2) with this great Fact about God: “O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.”

This Truth alone, if the Psalm had not another word, could provide spiritual strength for a long time!

Built around the Theme of Praise, Psalm 65 is actually a Prayer within itself. Look at verse 1 … “Praise waiteth for thee, O God.” Direct address, hence prayer, to the Almighty!

Then David continues to praise/thank God for one great blessing after another. Some examples: forgiveness (verse 3), fellowship (verse 4), His omnipresence (verse 5), power (verse 6), sunrises and sunsets (verse 8), rain (verse 9), and even for the crops and livestock (verses 12-13)!

By Psalm’s end the whole creation is praising God!

And right in the center of all this beautiful Worship … is our little jewel of a Verse … “O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.”

O my Christian friend … do not let this morning pass away until you have talked some with the Lord … communed with “The God That Hearest Prayer!”

God listens (the secondary meaning of “shama,” the Hebrew verb “hearest” in our Text) when we pray!

Talk about incentive!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Have you ever heard this little saying? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

I’ve been able to trace it back to the mid-1800’s. And surprisingly, it is not part of some long, epic poem on verbal use or abuse. Just that single, compound sentence!

But Psalm 64 makes me think otherwise. About our words, that is.

REALLY THE BIBLE QUITE OFTEN HAS THE OPPOSITE OPINION TO UNSAVED HUMANITY! THE BIBLE IS TRUTH. PEOPLE ARE OFTEN GUIDED BY LIES!

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4

The Psalmist David, in praying for safety from his (many) enemies … characterized the wicked this way:

“Who whet their tongue like a SWORD, and bend their bows to shoot their ARROWS, even bitter words.”

Tongues like SWORDS!

Words like shot ARROWS!

Weapons indeed!

No wonder Solomon write: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

Wow!

So much for that little Sticks and Stones “ditty!” (From the Latin word for “dictate.”)

We as Christians must be “extra careful” with our words!

Not to be hurtful.

To this extent, in fact … “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Quoting the unique Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:29

Lord, “tame our tongues” please!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A new Bible Study Lesson should have been written yesterday morning, Sunday the 26th of September. But having preached two Revivals last week (one ending Saturday night) and beginning a new Revival (Sunday morning) … I was not able to write as usual.

There are sometimes limits to a person’s physical abilities.

The Lord willing, Tuesday morning we will be back on schedule.

In the meantime … watch the new Evening Meditation Monday afternoon about 4:00. We are discussing (and learning) from the little Epistle of 3rd John right now. You can find us (primarily) on our YouTube channel at Dr. Mike Bagwell. But we also share the videos on Facebook.

Stay “in” the Word, folks.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

At least we’re going to discuss what one Psalmist did at night, to great profit!

“I remember thee (Lord) upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6

Clearly he, during any sleepless hours, thought upon the Lord! Remembered the Lord! The Hebrew verb “remember” used here often means “to mention” something or someone!

And the verb “meditate” means “to utter, to mutter” better yet … “to speak quietly, silently,” or “under one’s breath!”

Clearly the Lord God is on David’s mind. Both day and night, looks like! (As a shepherd young David was up at night, watching that flock. As a King he likely was up at night, concerned over the affairs of state. But he did not waste that “awake” time! He converted it into spiritual benefit!)

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” The context of Psalm 63 broadened a bit now! (Joy, satisfaction, growth!)

So … I have a simple suggestion.

Next time you cannot sleep … invest that “open door” wisely. Don’t worry. Don’t get up and go eat a snack! Don’t toss and turn in the bed either!

Do what godly David learned to do … “I will remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

Had he been doing that the tragic evening he first saw Bathsheba … things might have been different. God’s Honor might not have been tarnished as much.

Anyway, it’s a little after midnight as I type these words … and I preached in Revival earlier … so I am going to bed and “practice” what David just “taught” us!

“I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Speaking of the ungodly, Psalm 62 says to them… “a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.”

Sounds like the Lord is at least calling the wicked “unstable, not dependable, about to implode!”

The adjective “bowing” can mean “declining,” and that suggests a “falling” wall, or nearly so!

When you see wickedness, the proud insolent kind … its days are “numbered!” It’s about to crumble!

(I am talking about godlessness as defined in the Bible. Before those definitions are “twisted” by modern man, modern woman!)

The verb “tottering” suggests “near collapse!” Of what value is a fence that no longer is useful, keeping nothing out and protecting no one inside its confines?

Like a leaning wall, a broken-down fence!

Meanwhile the righteous are, like Jeremiah the Prophet … “a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen wall” … Jeremiah 1:18.

See the difference, vast difference?

“Steadfast, unmoveable,” so says Paul! (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“Bold as a lion,” says Solomon! (Proverbs 28:1)

“Like a flint, a rock,” was Jesus in His Resolve to go to the Cross and die for our sins! (Isaiah 50:7)

Wow!

Is today’s Lesson a warning against apostasy, hypocrisy, iniquity?

Or is at an incentive to live godly living?

You decide.

For me, it’s a little bit of both!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I feel challenged to live for Jesus. To better … “abhor that which is evil; and cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9

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