21 Days of Prayer
Key Verse:
“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;” Psalm 15:1-2
Prompt:
This week's focus: Live by Faith
When we read Psalm 15, we are reminded of the righteous, set-apart life the Lord is calling us to. We are also reminded that without the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit, no one can live a life unshaken by sin. Today, praise God for the gift of righteousness that His Son, Jesus, made possible through His death on the cross. Thank God for sending His Holy Spirit to guide us and grow us, and ask Him to help you live a life that honors Him this year.
More:
Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
The Psalms of David often reflect the tension of human depravity and the pursuit of righteousness. Psalm 14 and Psalm 15 together present a contrast between the foolishness of those who reject God and the integrity of those who seek His will. Two themes can be found in these passages. One is dread, and the other is fear. Psalm 14 says that the evildoers will be filled with dread, and Psalm 15 says that righteous fear the Lord. Those who are righteous are blameless and honor the Lord with their actions. The righteous don’t experience dread but fear the Lord. To “fear the Lord” is to be in reverential awe of Him. It’s a recognition of His holiness. It inspires worship and obedience. Dread paralyzes, whereas fear empowers.
Psalm 14 begins with a sobering observation: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Here, the word “fool” doesn’t mean someone who lacks intelligence or someone who acts in a silly manner. The meaning of the word in this context means someone who is actively rebelling against God. It is foolish and unwise to go against God’s will. Willful denial of God and His teachings leads to moral corruption.
We may profess with our words that Jesus is the Lord and that we believe everything the Bible teaches us, but if we’re being honest, we don’t always live like we truly believe. In other words, we act like fools sometimes. Psalm 14 is a call to humility. It reminds us that without God’s grace, we are spiritually bankrupt, and if we are living out of His will, then we are living sinful lives. We are trying to make our own rules and justify our actions. What could be more foolish?
In contrast, Psalm 15 shows us what it means to live righteously before the Lord. It can be a struggle sometimes to live in a way that honors Him. The world throws so many obstacles in our way that it can feel like we are never going to get anything right. Sometimes it’s the world, and sometimes we’re doing the damage all by ourselves. Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies. We cannot fully live in God’s presence through our own efforts. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are made righteous. Psalms 14 and 15 should be a reminder and an encouragement that although we are sinful and selfish, it is through Jesus’s saving grace that we are forgiven.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.