Scripture Union Daily Guide 6 April 2024 (Saturday) Devotional Message
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6 April 2024 TOPIC: The Book of Life
OPENING PRAYER: Oh Lord, grant me spiritual insight into the truth of your word as I study it.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Psalm 69:19-36
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33 The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q3: Is there any command for me to obey?
* Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6 April 2024 || Outline:
David laments the scorn he faced, made worse by rejection. He looks for compassion and comfort and finds none (v.20). It is to offer support and encouragement to those who need our help that Jesus urges us to visit the sick, prisoners, widows, and orphans (Matthew 25:36-45). David’s punitive prayer against his enemies (vs.22-28) is typical of biblical psalmists who, in their distress, poured their hearts out to the Lord. So, when he prayed in Psalm 27:2— “When the wicked advance against me to destroy me, my enemies and foes, they will stumble and fall,” can you fault him when those enemies seek to destroy him?
In our prayers for protection against our enemies and our foes, may the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us with groans too deep for words (Romans 8:26, 27) grant us the appropriate utterance.
Whatever the situation, however, the fervent prayer for ourselves (v.29), and others should be accompanied by praise and thanksgiving to the Lord—and David explains why (v.31).
For Further Study
For further studies: David mentions the book of life (v.28). From Philippians 4:3 and Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:15, what do we learn about the Book of Life?
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Lord, help me to look beyond my troubles and focus my life on you. Thank you for writing my name in the Book of Life.
Prayer for the week
* Pray for Christian missionaries, for fruitfulness and effectiveness on their various fields • Ask that God will protect and keep them from evil • Pray that God will encourage them and meet and supply every of their need
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Luke 6:19
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 97 – Ruth
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sat Apr 06, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SU BRETHREN: SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. – Col. 1:9
THANK GOD FOR:
* Our salvation and his Spirit at work in us.
PRAY FOR:
* Revival for all brethren in the place of personal devotion, evangelism, commitment and total surrender, genuine repentance and transformation of our lives; focus on Christ return and heaven.
* God will give the brethren spiritual wisdom and insight so that we may grow in the knowledge of God.
* Brethren to live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return; and be filled with the fruit of our salvation and the righteous character produced in our lives by Jesus Christ.
* Journey mercies as brethren return home after the National Prayer Conference
PRAY AGAINST:
* All defilement and lifestyle that do not please God.
