S – Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God

Psalms 7:9 CSB

O – “Establish” – kûwn. to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence, (caus.) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether lit. (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or fig. (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous

“Examine” – bâchan, baw-khan’; a prim. root; to test (espec. metals); gen. and fig. to investigate:— examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – As the world goes one way, righteousness will go another.  “Standing perpendicular” means something is going straight upward in different direction.  God examines our thoughts and emotions.  He knows our hearts.   We need to align ours with His.

R – Heavenly Father, you know all things.  Thank you God for searching our hearts, thoughts, emotions, words and actions.  We desire to walk in your righteousness.  Empower us to take what you reveal to us in our relationship and walk in a way that brings you  glory and honor today.

S –  Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love. ⁵ For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol? 

Psalms 6:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

In his earnest prayer for deliverance, David gave two reasons why God should answer. One is that the Lord should rescue him because of His unfailing love. God had shown Himself again and again to be abundant in loyal love (ḥeseḏ), so David pleaded for deliverance on the basis of God’s character.

6:5. David said the second reason the Lord should turn to him is because of the absence of praises (tôḏâh) in the grave. If he died because of his illness, he then could not praise God for delivering him from it. So David reasoned that if God desired someone to stand in the sanctuary and proclaim that God delivered him, then God would have to do so

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 795–796.

A – Believers will go through situations and seasons where they want God to deliver  them from the pain and challenges.  These are real and difficult times.  We know God has unlimited power and could “fix it” instantly and yet, He doesn’t.  Our faith must remain steadfast in Him, trusting that His will and plan for us is good.  In His timing, we will be “delivered” from the challenge.

R – Heavenly Father, you are a good and merciful God.  You know every detail of what we are facing today and the challenges that are before us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to equip and go with us into every conversation and moment.  We want to be led and used by you to bring your presence into each one.  We put our faith in you to work to accomplish your purposes today.

S – Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.

Psalms 5:8 CSB

O – Commentary:

O Yahweh, lead me The psalmist asks God to lead him. To be led by Yahweh is to enjoy His protection and safety (23:3; Isa 42:16). The path of righteousness is ultimately a path of safety and blessing (Psa 1:6; Prov 12:28).

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 5:8.

A – David asks God to lead him because he has enemies.  He also asks God to reveal his will and plans so he can see and follow them.  We need to invite God to lead us as well. Our enemies are not always visible and the things we can see are not always beatable in our own strength.  We need God in both situations.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are knowing and all powerful.  We invite you to reveal your will and plans for us today.  We put our faith in your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in our thoughts, words and actions so we can honor you and be safe.  

S -Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him

Psalms 4:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Because the Lord had set apart the psalmist in love, He would answer his prayer. David described himself as one of the godly (ḥāsîḏ), an object of God’s covenantal loyal love. In the care of God, David was safe and God would hear and respond to his prayers.

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 794.

A – Like David, we are “set apart.”  When we accepted Christ, we became one of God’s children.  He hears us when we pray.  Even when we don’t see him working, we know He is at work for our good.  We can have confidence to face today as His children.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Rock that is Higher than I.  Thank you for hearing us when we pray and talk with you.  You have called us your own and we walk confidently knowing you are with us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to be present and lead us according to your will and purpose today.

S – But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Psalms  3:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

In the face of such antagonism, David found comfort in God’s character. Using the metaphor of a shield, he said that God was the true Source of his protection (in spite of their taunts). The psalmists often spoke of God as a shield to depict His protection (7:10; 18:2, 30; 28:7; 33:20; 59:11; 84:11; 115:9–11; 119:114; 144:2). David was confident that God would restore him to his throne. The words lifts up my head express restoration to dignity and position 

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 793.

A – “David found comfort in God’s character.”  As believers, we are under the constant barrage of the enemy’s attack – temptation, accusation, lies, shame and guilt.  God not only fights for us but equips us to fight using the Word of God, the armor of God and His promises.  It is spiritual warfare daily.  We must fight from the place of victory because Jesus secured that on the cross for us.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for fighting for us with your presence and character.  We are equipped and prepared through the weapons you have given us.  We know in Jesus name, we will have the victory today.

S – The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One:^, 3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.” ⁴ The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them

Psalms 2:2–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

The kings hate the Lord’s established order in the world, so they desire to be independent of him (see 36:4). They scheme about dominating the Lord’s people (31:13; see 83:1–4). Their goal is to subvert the Lord’s rule in the world by overthrowing his anointed one (or his messiah); the Lord chose the kings of David’s dynasty to establish his kingdom throughout the earth. The NT confirms that Jesus, the appointed and anointed Son of God (Acts 4:26; 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5), fulfills the role in which these earlier kings failed.

2:3 break their chains: These kings believe that acknowledging the true God and his chosen ruler will result in their enslavement (Isa 28:22; 52:2; cp. Lam 3:7; Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 7:22; Titus 1:1).

2:4–6 The Lord finds the human threat insignificant. He provided a solution long before their rebellion. He will end their agitation through the appointment of a human agent, a descendant of David’s line who will rule the nations.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Ps 2:2–7.

A – The idea of man’s independence from God is throughout the Bible.  We know God through relationship, not our own endeavors.  God laughs at the “silliness” of trying to accomplish their own agenda against Him.  When we surrender, God comes close.  In that relationship, we see the power of working with God to accomplish things instead of working against Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful.  We surrender our hearts, thoughts, words and actions to you.  We are grateful for our relationship and the ability to work with you to accomplish all that you have for us today. 

S – He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Psalms 1:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

For all who take their delight in living by God’s Word, there is prosperity. Under the image of a fruitful tree, the psalmist declared that whatever the righteous do will prosper (cf. 92:12–14). Two qualifications need to be noted. First, the fruit, that is, the prosperity, is produced in its season and not necessarily immediately after planting. Second, what the godly person does will be controlled by the Law of God (1:2). So if a person meditates on God’s Word, his actions will be godly, and his God-controlled activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment.

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 790.

A – We all want to “prosper.”  While this is usually associated with finances, it covers so much more.  Any area that is vital to our well being physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually comes together for our overall well being.  All of that breaks forward when we follow God Word.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  Thank you for your Word that allow us to prosper in all areas of our lives.  We invite you to work in us to align with your Word so we can grow in our relationship with you, while enjoying the benefits of your blessing.

S – They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit. 

Jude 18–19

O – Commentary:

As stated in Jude 18–19, these intruders (a) scoffed (cf. vv. 10–15), (b) followed their own ungodly desires (cf. v. 16) and mere natural instincts (cf. vv. 10, 16), and (c) sought to divide believers. Such men obviously did not have the Holy Spirit and thus were not born again (Rom. 8:9).

 Edward C. Pentecost, “Jude,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 923.

A – There are people who will not believe in Jesus or the message of the gospel.  We must demonstrate his love and character to give them the opportunity to see them.  We are not responsible for their salvation but we can give them someone to observe that may change their heart.  We must be sowing seeds of God’s love and Word.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, true God.  Empower us today as we interact with people who don’t desire to know you.  Help us to meet those who scoff at your word and love  with a genuine reflection of you.

S – Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God

3 John 11 CSB

O – Commentary:

those who do evil: Diotrephes was condemned for his failure to live by the Christian rule of love (1 Jn 3:10–14). This was how Gaius could be sure that Diotrephes was not living according to the truth. This applies to all who refuse to accept the apostolic teaching about Jesus Christ and refuse to live in fellowship with others who do. • they do not know God: Literally they have not seen God

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), 3 Jn 11.

A – None of us would like to be characterized as “doing evil” or “one who has not seen God.”  As believers, we need to emulate the character of God.  Jesus is our example not only in a humanly demonstration but in character, integrity, compassion, empathy, courage and boldness.  When our lives align with both the physical, mental and spiritual demonstrations of God, we will see good win over evil.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and perfect.  You made us fallible and we are sinners.  Our capacity for good and evil is a daily battle.  We invite your Holy Spirit to work in us to be more like you today.  Give us the courage and faith to grow in our relationship with you.

S – This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love. 

 2 John 6

O – Commentary:

This is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands. As he had also done in 1 John 5:2–3a, John defined Christian love in terms of obedience to God. A Christian who truly seeks God’s best for his brothers and sisters can only do so by obeying what God has commanded him to do. Love undirected by God’s revealed will may easily degenerate into unwise, sentimental activity. Believers who are “walking in the truth” (2 John 4), that is, living in response to what God has revealed, love each other. Brotherly love is part of the truth God has revealed and commanded.

 Zane C. Hodges, “2 John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 906–907.

A – For us to truly love each other, we must be rooted in relationship with God.  This allows us to go beyond our humanly expression of love and add the spiritual element.  It causes us to see others through the eyes of their Creator which gives them greater value and deeper love.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all.  Thank you for loving us before we even knew you.  Empower us today to love others as you do.  Give us the ability to see the value you have in them so we can express our love for them in alignment with your Word and character.