An introduction to the life of renewed devotion through the example of David.
David was recognized as a man after God's heart.
Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king.
God testified concerning him: ‘
I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will do everything I want him to do.’
Often our first consideration is what God wants us to do instead of who God wants us to be.
Psalms 40:6
Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
6Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened c —
burnt offerings and sin offerings d you did not require.
7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. e
8I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
David established a devotion to prayer. The psalms includes a collection of many of his prayers. One of his most recognized is in Psalms 86.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Another model prayer was given by Jesus who responded when his Disciples asked him to Teach them to pray in Matthew 6: 6-13
6 But when you pray, go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
will reward you.
7 And when you pray,
do not keep on babbling like pagans,
for they think they will be heard
because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them,
for your Father knows
what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
There are many types of prayers. A popular model is to include each of the following elements:
ADORATION
This prayer recognizes God for who he is and is a clear statement of devotion. example. Psalms 86: 8,10
CONFESSION
This prayer recognizes how the nature of our sin and our need for forgiveness. example Matthew 6:12-13
THANKSGIVING
This prayer recognizes what God has done for us in the past as well as what he has promised us to do.
SUPPLICATION
This prayer recognizes that our prayers and petitions for the needs of ourselves as well as the needs of others to the Lord.
A renewed devotion to prayer can often come to the unemployed.
This can be because we become more reflective, because of the nature of our real needs, and because of an available time free from other distractions.
There are many examples that we can follow of prayers in the scriptures if we help getting started. A key is that our prayer is not just about us but about God.
Sometimes it not that we need to know more about prayer as it is that we just need to do it.
Creating a time and place and routine to our time of prayer often helps as we renew our devotion.
Lord
I offer this prayer to renew my devotion to you. i know that it is easier to do things or give things than to give my devotion.
Lord I turn to you because you are like no other.
I confess my needs before you.
I thank you for the rich blessings that you have given me.
I ask that you will help me as I am right now and help me become the type of person that I need to be.
Amen
David established a devotion to scriptures, and songs. David had a commitment to praise God and recognize his Providence.
David found a way to always honor God with praise despite his circumstances and temporal situations.
Here are a few examples that you may find helpful.
Psalm 150 New International Version (NIV)
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
There are several hints and suggestions to renew our time in scripture.
Find a readable translation. There are many different translations. Some of them are more faithful to the original texts than others. There is no other way to know about God's faithfulness than to spend time reading the scripture. Consider starting in the book of John if you want to find somewhere to start.
Some have found benefits from not only devotion to read scripture but also to memorize scripture as well.
Psalms 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
The psalms is full of not only poetry but songs. There is something about putting truth into song that helps us reach deeper to our heart.
It's curious the number of different instruments referenced in Psalms 150. Perhaps you have a gift and can play an instrument. Perhaps you like to sing. Perhaps you have a favorite musician who's music touches you whether in hymns or songs.
Ephesians 5:19:
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
always giving thanks to God the Father
for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This can be especially hard when our focus is on our own circumstances. Praise has little to do with us but everything to do with the object of our praise. God deserves his praise regardless of our circumstances.
When we are unemployed, we can sometimes be caught up in our own struggles so much that everything that we look at and think about is the next job or our situation.
If we are not careful, we can easily think everything is about us and changing our situation. It's not always about you. Sometimes whether through scripture or song we need to renew our mind and be purposeful to turn our attention to God.
Be more intentional about substituting scripture and songs which will build things up for those things that are negative or complaining or efforts to tear others down.
Lord
You are so worthy to be praised. There is none like you.
I know that I get so weighed down and pre-occupied with my own interests that I do not focus on you.
I recommit my devotion to you through a reading of your scripture and singing to you.
Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.
Amen
David practiced a devotion to sacred gatherings. David certainly had many experiences with the Lord outside of a temple or building.
He had experiences in nature when he was out protecting his sheep.
He had experiences when he was isolated in a dark cave.
But David recognized the importance recovery of the Ark of the Covenant which had been taken from Israel and set it up in a tent in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 16:
They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it,
and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord,
to extol,[a] thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah,
then Jaaziel,[b] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel.
They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord
But David did not stop at building a tent but also wanted to build a temple in Jerusalem. However based on the revelation through Nathan, this temple would be built not by David but by Solomon.
1 Chronicles 17
After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”
2 Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”
3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:
4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders[a] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
7 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. 9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.
“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’”
15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
The need for assembly was alsp promoted gathering of the people even in the early church in Hebrews 10:25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I have to admit that I enjoy seeing old historic buildings when we travel. it is surprising to find how many of the best kept buildings have been locations of sacred gatherings. Sometimes its the building that remains, sometimes it is only the grounds even the cemetery.
There can be something significant at the humble reflection that others gathered to worship hundreds of years ago at the same place that we are visiting.
I remember too how certain places are important because the connection that a place had to not only me but perhaps to my parents or my grandparents. I have gone by sometimes to the place where my father once preached in Tulsa or in North Little Rock. I think about the places where my children were baptized. The church that we were married in or where we had the final service for a parent.
Although God is not constrained to a specific time or place it can still powerful reminder to us when we have found in a sacred place.
One of the uncomfortable changes for someone that becomes unemployed is the loss of a place of work. Often our identity is not only set in what we do but also where we do it. It may not mean that everyone has the corner office in luxury, but most of us have had a place that was where we worked and where we could be found. As we become unemployed, we find that the number of places that we call our own become disrupted. But there are sacred places that we belong and where we can find the Lord in powerful ways that have nothing to do with whether or not we are employed.
If you do not have a church home, I would encourage you to find a place of gathering with like minded believers.
And I would encourage you to leave your "unemployedness" at the door. Certainly share with those who will pray for you and network with you. But see the church as another place where you enter that other things are more important than your day job. You belong at a church regardless of your employment status. Do not let your feelings about your unemployed status keep you from a rightful place you belong as a child of God.
Lord
We renew our commitment to meet together in sacred gatherings. We know that it is more than just a physical space but a place reserved for recognition of who you are and what you have done for us.
Keep us from making the focus about us and our status and direct our hearts so that we will see you.
Encourage us by the full assurance and identify that we have from being your child. And let us be a testimony to our family of the importance of making and keeping a commitment to you whether we feel like it or not.
Amen
David often commented on the need for Justice
Psalm 10[a]
1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by[b] him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”
But the appeal that David makes for Justice is out of the confidence that God cares and will not be blind
12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
“He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.
We can be reassured that the Lord will stand for justice.
“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” (Psalm 82:3).
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17).
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others,” (Luke 11:42).
Sometimes the unemployed are the victims of circumstances beyond their control. Sometimes one can lose his job not because of his actions but because of the motivations and the schemes of someone else. a boss. a colleague. Perhaps there is a case of discrimination or mistreatment that is buried and beyond the explanations that are given.
The challenge for us is that we may want to see justice in our own timing. We want there to be swift and immediate justice to the wicked. There may be a desire for action on our part but sometimes we need to leave justice to the Lord.
Just because we have not seen the wrath of God does not mean that there will not be or has not been consequences for the wicked.
I know it can be hard to find a way to turn the page. We want to pursue the wicked.
The longer that we hold onto our injustice the longer we are robbed of our joy.
Hebrews 12:14-15 encourages us to choose otherwise to avoid the root of bitterness.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Lord
We acknowledge that you are a God of Justice. You have set the standard and we know that you will be the deliverer of Justice.
Our hearts go out to those who are oppressed and hurt by the wicked and we want to take matters in our own hands.
Give us clarity on what we should do and what we should leave for you to do.
Take away the bitterness that can sour and trouble us. Grant us peace so that the injustice does not rob us of the joy we have.
Amen
David established a devotion to the hope of delivery.
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 27 Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, [1] when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [2] face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
It's hard when you want something to not get tired of waiting. Like a small child the days leading up to their birthday or to Christmas, the waiting becomes unbearable. for the Unemployed the waiting becomes more torturous because we often have no idea when it will end. Sometimes things start looking favorable and our hopes and dreams go into overdrive. However sometimes we find that our hopes were unfounded and our dreams crash back to earth.
The cycle of hoping and crashing wears us out emotionally. We sometimes can feel like giving up. We felt foolish for what did not happen that we were so sure would happen. Sometimes we find even if we had given up on an opportunity weeks ago, that things may still be working to our favor. it seems we can never get the timing right on how long the steps and the overall process should take.
I do know that our hope has to be about more than just finding our next job. I hate to be the bearing of bad news, but it is very likely the next job will not be your last job.
When we pray for the Lord to give us hope, we may find that the hope he gives us has much more to do with our hope in him than it does in our next job.
He is the hope that we can be confident in. Though we wait for the Lord's timing, we can be assured that his love will not fail us.
Lord
You alone are reliable. You are trustworthy. What you promise us you will deliver.
Help me turn my hope to you. Let my confidence and assurance be in who you are and what you have promised us.
Help me be strong as I wait for you and the redemption that we will have on that glorious morning when you come.
Amen