The Prayer of a Righteous Man, Part 5

By James Boice

Theme: A Final Appeal

In this week’s lessons we look at Psalm 17, and learn how this prayer of David can serve as a model both for our own prayers and for how we examine our own holiness.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-15

The third of David's arguments seems a bit humdrum compared to the first two, but it was not humdrum to the psalmist. It is the danger in which he found himself. He speaks about it in verses 10-12. This is the first time in the psalm in which David speaks specifically about his problem: he has enemies, and they are threatening him. He says three things about them. First, "they close up their callous hearts" (literally, "they are enclosed in their own fat"). He probably means that they are implacable. They have no mercy. Second, "their mouths speak with arrogance." David has denounced this type of speech in earlier psalms (Ps. 5:5; 10:2-13; 12:3). Third, "they have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground." He means that they are intent on his destruction.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Beyond Hymnals and Screens

by Greg Wilbur • June 01, 2017

There has been a recent series of posts, blogs, and articles about the use of hymnals, the loss of hymnals, what we gain with screens, what we lose with screens, etc. Behind these posts is an assumption that whether it is printed or pixelated on a screen denotes two different types of music. As such, this becomes more a discussion of style. However, at the heart of the matter is what is the purpose of singing in worship and how does that influence what we sing.

There has been a recent series of posts, blogs, and articles about the use of hymnals, the loss of hymnals, what we gain with screens, what we lose with screens, etc. Behind these posts is an assumption that whether it is printed or pixelated on a screen denotes two different types of music. As such, this becomes more a discussion of style. However, at the heart of the matter is what is the purpose of singing in worship and how does that influence what we sing.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

The Prayer of a Righteous Man, Part 4

By James Boice

Theme: The Love of God

In this week’s lessons we look at Psalm 17, and learn how this prayer of David can serve as a model both for our own prayers and for how we examine our own holiness.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-15

The second of David's arguments for why God should hear and answer his prayer is expressed in verses 6-9. It concerns the character of God, in these verses particularly his covenant-keeping love. These verses plead: “…give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings…”

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

The Prayer of a Righteous Man, Part 3

By James Boice

Theme: The Need for Self-Examination

In this week’s lessons we look at Psalm 17, and learn how this prayer of David can serve as a model both for our own prayers and for how we examine our own holiness.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-15

As far as a claim to innocence is concerned, consider God's evaluation of Job. Job was certainly not sinless. But when God called Satan's attention to his servant, his words were, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). At the very end of the book God says that he will accept Job's prayer, because Job had not spoken folly as his comforters had (Job 42:8).

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

The Prayer of a Righteous Man, Part 2

By James Boice

Theme: The Psalmist’s Innocence

In this week’s lessons we look at Psalm 17, and learn how this prayer of David can serve as a model both for our own prayers and for how we examine our own holiness.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-15

Since Psalm 17 is for God's protection and deliverance, it contains urgent appeals to God to hear the psalmist's prayer. We find these in verses 1 ("hear," "listen" and "give ear") and 6 ("give ear to me and hear my prayer"), and we could rightly add David's appeals to God to act quickly and decisively: "Show the wonders of your great love…" (v. 7); "keep me as the apple of your eye" (v. 8); "hide me in the shadow of your wings" (v. 8); and "rescue me from the wicked by your sword" (v. 13).

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

The Prayer of a Righteous Man, Part 1

By James Boice

Theme: A Model Prayer

In this week’s lessons we look at Psalm 17, and learn how this prayer of David can serve as a model both for our own prayers and for how we examine our own holiness.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-15

Commentators on psalms frequently distinguish between various types of psalms, which they call genres. A typical classification might be: hymns, laments, thanksgiving psalms, psalms of remembrance, psalms of confidence, wisdom psalms, and kingship psalms.1

Commentators on psalms frequently distinguish between various types of psalms, which they call genres. A typical classification might be: hymns, laments, thanksgiving psalms, psalms of remembrance, psalms of confidence, wisdom psalms, and kingship psalms.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

What if I'm Not Elect?

by Dr. David Murray • May 26, 2017

Some opponents of Reformed theology argue that the doctrine of election produces unfeeling and fatalistic preachers: “If God has already chosen who will believe, what’s the point in preaching passionate and persuasive evangelistic sermons?” However, although that’s (usually) an unfair caricature of Reformed truth, there’s no question that Reformed pastors sometimes have to counsel people who will say something like, “But if I’m not in the elect, there’s no point in believing in Christ. If my name’s not written in the Book of Life, then all my believing is in vain.”

Some opponents of Reformed theology argue that the doctrine of election produces unfeeling and fatalistic preachers: “If God has already chosen who will believe, what’s the point in preaching passionate and persuasive evangelistic sermons?” However, although that’s (usually) an unfair caricature of Reformed truth, there’s no question that Reformed pastors sometimes have to counsel people who will say something like, “But if I’m not in the elect, there’s no point in believing in Christ.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

A Prophecy of the Resurrection, Part 5

By James Boice

Theme: Faith Is the Victory

In this week’s lessons we learn from one text how the Old Testament points ahead to Jesus’ resurrection.

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11

Did David consciously prophecy the Lord's resurrection? He may have, but it is not necessary to think so. To be sure, Peter termed him a prophet in Acts 2. But later in his first letter, Peter wrote that the prophets "searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (1 Peter 1:10, 11). This means that David did not necessarily understand that he was writing of Jesus' resurrection when he composed verse 10.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

A Prophecy of the Resurrection, Part 4

By James Boice

Theme: The Psalmist’s Present Blessings and Future Hope

In this week’s lessons we learn from one text how the Old Testament points ahead to Jesus’ resurrection.

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11

3. The psalmist's present blessings (vv. 5-8). The third part of the psalm describes the psalmist's present blessings. There are four of them.

First, David says of, “LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup.” The word "portion" can have two meanings. It can refer to one's portion in the land, that is, one's estate or inheritance. Or it can refer to one's daily portion of food, a ration. Since it is linked to the word "cup" in this verse and since the idea of an inheritance in the land occurs in the verse after this, in verse 6, the "portion" in verse 5 is probably the singer's daily ration of food or, by extension, other necessities. It is what we ask for in the Lord's Prayer when we recite, "Give us this day our daily bread." It means that we are looking to God for our provisions.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

A Prophecy of the Resurrection, Part 3

By James Boice

Theme: Our Portion in Life and Death

In this week’s lessons we learn from one text how the Old Testament points ahead to Jesus’ resurrection.

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11

Yesterday we concluded with the observation that this psalm can be divided into four parts, and that is was written by David, perhaps when he was fleeing for his life from King Saul.

1. The psalmist's relationship to God (vv. 1, 2). The opening verses begin with a statement of the psalmist's relationship to God, and the essence of that relationship is in the names for God he uses. The first word is el, translated simply "God" in verse l. El is the most common name for God. But the unique quality of this name is that it delineates God as "the strong (or mighty) one." It is appropriately chosen in verse l, for it is in God as the mighty one that the psalmist takes refuge.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

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PLACE FOR TRUTH

What David Needed Most

Reformation 21

“He fell today; I may fall tomorrow.”