YEAR 2, WEEK 17, Day 7, Sunday, 27 April 2025

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=Psalm+69%3B+Deuteronomy+5

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 27 April 2025:

Psalm 69:1–3 — Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

David begins with a desperate plea for salvation, vividly describing overwhelming trouble and exhaustion. The deep waters and mire represent trials that threaten to destroy him. Christians are reminded here that it is not ungodly to cry out honestly to God in seasons of weariness and distress. True faith doesn’t hide struggle; it brings raw emotion before the Lord, trusting that He hears even when the answer seems delayed. The practical action is to persist in prayer even when weary, and to trust that waiting is itself an act of faith.

Also, it is important to persist in prayer even when we find ourselves up to our necks with trouble. We have a tendency to seek the Lord only when we think we need Him, without appreciation that He is our life – we were made to constantly need Him and rely on Him. We were meant to abide in Him, praying to Him continually, without ceasing, intentionally walking in His presence and serving Him thankfully for all circumstances. The more we learn to walk with Him moment by moment and trust Him, the more prepared we will be when trials come.

Psalm 69:4 — More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies.

David’s suffering is compounded by unjust hatred and slander. Jesus referenced this verse in John 15:25 to describe the world’s hatred toward Him. Christians should not be surprised when standing for truth invites opposition and false accusation. Following Christ sometimes means suffering unjustly, but we are called to respond not with bitterness but with faithfulness, entrusting our cause to God who judges justly. We also need to remember Jesus intentionally suffered to reach and save sinners like us, and we will also suffer as we seek to love the unloving. Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves….” (Matthew 10:16) Jesus has given us the mission of suffering maltreatment while seeking to reach hurting an hurtful people.

Psalm 69:5 — O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

David acknowledges his own sins before God even as he pleads for help. Genuine faith involves both crying out for deliverance and humbly confessing sin. Christians must remember that personal repentance should always accompany our petitions, recognizing that God’s grace covers both our suffering and our shortcomings. Confession keeps our hearts soft and dependent.

Psalm 69:7 — For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.

David suffers because of his devotion to God, not because of wrongdoing. Likewise, Christians must be willing to endure shame or reproach for Christ’s sake. It is a mark of loyalty to God when we suffer for righteousness. The lesson is to seek approval from God, not people, and to find joy even in persecution for His name. When you suffer for sake of doing the right thing and giving to others as an act of worship, you bring honor to God.

Suffering and enduring shame or reproach for Christ is not just being ridiculed for proclaiming the Gospel, it is also the suffering which comes from continual forgiveness and continually loving without reciprocation, service without recognition, enduring maltreatment without resentment, etc.

Psalm 69:9 — For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

This verse points prophetically to Christ (John 2:17) when He cleansed the temple. It reminds Christians that passionate love for God and His purposes often invites conflict. To be zealous for God’s house today means loving the Church, protecting its purity, and seeking God’s honor above our own comfort. Practically, it calls for boldness in living out the Gospel and an unwavering commitment to God’s glory.

Psalm 69:13 — But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

David models patient faith—he continues praying and waiting for God’s timing. Christians are taught here that even when the pressure mounts and answers seem delayed, we must rest in the steadfast love and perfect timing of God. Practically, we are called to pray persistently and trust in God’s character rather than in immediate outcomes.

Psalm 69:16 — Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

David appeals to God’s goodness and mercy, not his own merit. Christians should approach God on the basis of His covenant love and abundant mercy, not personal worthiness. This verse teaches us to base our hope entirely on God’s character. In practice, when we pray, we should first fix our eyes on who God is—gracious, merciful, faithful—and let that guide our confidence.

Psalm 69:20 — Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

David experiences complete isolation and heartbreak. This suffering foreshadows Christ’s experience on the cross, abandoned by men. Christians are reminded that loneliness and betrayal, painful as they are, can draw us into deeper fellowship with Christ who suffered perfectly. When human comfort fails, divine comfort remains available through the Spirit.

Psalm 69:29-31 — But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.

God desires a heart of worship, not just acts of worship.

God wants you to have faith, joy, and confidence in your salvation through Jesus, not in your deeds, which cannot bring you salvation. “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you (Acts 13:38).” Our sins are fully, completely, permanently forgiven through God’s free gift of grace (giving us what we don’t deserve), a gift we cannot earn or improve upon, a gift we cannot lose. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)….. Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:11)….. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18-20).”

Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through the blood of Christ, our sins have been covered over and Ephesians 2:13 adds: “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Jesus desires, “that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). If you are a Christian, It is time for you to accept the freedom, joy, and peace that is yours through Jesus Christ and spread the message of reconciliation with boldness.

Psalm 69:29 — But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Even in his lowest moment, David calls on God’s salvation as his hope of being lifted up. Christians must likewise fix their hope not on worldly solutions but on the deliverance that comes from God alone. Cling to God’s promises and resist the temptation to seek ultimate rescue in human strength or worldly escape.

Psalm 69:30 — I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

David shifts from lament to praise, even before deliverance arrives. Christians are called to magnify God not only after the breakthrough but even in the midst of the trial. Gratitude transforms suffering into worship and strengthens faith. Today, believers can practically cultivate thanksgiving by singing, praying, and journaling God’s goodness in all circumstances.

Psalm 69:32–33 — When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

David encourages the humble: God hears, sees, and saves. Those who seek God will find renewed hope. Christians are reminded that our God never despises the brokenhearted; He draws near to the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Practically, this calls for persistence in seeking God and trusting that He values us even when the world does not.

Psalm 69:36 — The offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

The psalm closes with a vision of future hope. God’s faithful ones—those who love His name—will ultimately inherit His blessings. Christians are called to live today in light of that eternal inheritance, knowing that earthly sufferings are momentary but God’s promises are forever. This perspective fuels endurance, purity, and joyful obedience.

God does not despise the truly humble and repentant sinner who knows how desperately he needs mercy and grace through Jesus.

Deuteronomy 5:1 — And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.”

Moses calls the people to not only hear God’s commands but to learn and obey them. God’s Word demands more than casual attention; it calls for careful, intentional action. For Christians, it is not enough to listen to sermons or read Scripture occasionally; we are called to study, internalize, and live out God’s Word in daily practice. True discipleship is marked by obedience that flows from understanding and reverence.

Hear them, learn them, and then carefully do them. Some don’t hear; some don’t learn; and some don’t do. Your job on earth is to first, obey by doing what you have heard and learned. Solomon’s conclusion from life sums it up: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Salvation is not through the Law but through faith. In fact, the Law reveals our need for grace. However, the Law nonetheless reflects the character and will of God, and we glorify God in obedience. Whereas obedience was once motivated by a sense of fear or duty, it should more and more be motivated by genuine love for the Lord. Jesus said, it was through our obedience that He would reveal Himself to us – “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21) Are you eager to obey to know Jesus personally?

• Psalm 119:30 — I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
• Psalm 119:60 — I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
• John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
• John 14:31 — But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
• 1 John 5:3 — For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
• John 3:36 — Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
• Luke 6:46 — “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
• Acts 5:29 — But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
• 1 John 3:24 — Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
• James 1:22-25 — But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Deuteronomy 5:2 – The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

God’s commands are for you, and He will hold you accountable. It is personal, between Him and you. None of God’s commands are outdated. He met you where you were, and now He expects you to obey. This is not about salvation but about sanctification. You are God’s child. Children are supposed to grow and mature. Parents discipline their children to mature them. Better to have discipline than to need to be disciplined. Obedience is a product of love. We are not perfected in love or obedience, but this should be our pursuit.

• Proverbs 3:11 — My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Deuteronomy 5:2, 3 — The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

Faith is not passed down from one generation to the next, nor is relationship. Faith, hope, love, and obedience is a personal matter. God speaks to you personally, and you must choose how you will respond.

Deuteronomy 5:7, 6:5 — “‘You shall have no other gods before me…. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

All other commandments rest on this foundation: Love God completely and let nothing hinder that total love. Obeying all the other commands from the wrong heart or wrong motives is still disobedience and, perhaps, a more dangerous form of disobedience than obvious sin because these “deeds” breed pride and convince the practitioner their self-righteousness has made them truly united with God. God is love; unity can only come through love, not mere deeds. So, you didn’t lie, cheat, or steal – why? What was the motivation? Was it fear of punishment? Was it to get some sort of blessing or reward? Was it to be honorable before men, to have a good reputation? Was it to make your family proud? Was it merely out of a sense of obligation? These are defiled sacrifices at the alter (Malachi 1:6-14), certainly nothing to brag about. Fortunately, the perfect sacrifice was provided for us so that we do not have to humiliate ourselves with our pathetic offerings, so that we can have intimate relationship with “Daddy” despite our wicked hearts. Now we are free to grow into love without fear. Certainly, we must strive with all our might to obey all of Gods commands, but those commands must be truly on our hearts rather than just in our minds and in our actions. As long as our goal is blessings rather than the One who blesses, we are missing the mark (sinning). This was Job’s test: Would Job lovingly obey God regardless the outcome. Did He obey merely for reward or because of His faithfulness to God. If there were no reward at all but merely the sufferings of Job to look forward to, would you still love and obey God just the same? “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:6)

Deuteronomy 5:8 — “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

The Glory of God is unfathomable. The moment we think we can shape or mold God from our perceptions or imagination, we have committed an unthinkable act of presumption, have greatly insulted the Almighty, and having greatly limited God in our minds. Subconsciously, we begin to focus on the image we have created of God rather than the True Almighty in all His Wonder. As innocent as it might seem, the carved image is our feeble attempt to bring God down to our level, to worship Him on our terms. Have you missed the fact that when people attempt to paint or carve images of God, the created object usually looks like the artist? Someone once said, “In the beginning, God created man, and man has been trying to create God ever since. You may never have created an image of God, but also be careful not to limit God from the perspective of your own understanding, by what you have personally experienced, or by what you can see, touch, smell, taste, or hear. The created thing can never completely understand that which created it. God is Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit. God’s commands protect His character from the deceptive thoughts of people.

Deuteronomy 5:8 – “I the Lord your God am a jealous God.”

God’s character does not change. Oprah Winfrey made headlines when she said that she stopped believing in God when she read this verse. She doesn’t (or didn’t) understand that God knows that He is what we ultimately need for total joy and peace; He is the source of love; He is the source of order; He is the source of justice. In love and justice, He cannot tolerate anything that would further drive what He loves away from Him. God’s jealousy is not like man’s jealousy. God’s jealousy is perfectly loving and just, and only seeks our very best interest. Be very grateful your God is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 5:10 — …but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

God’s character is rich in mercy toward those who love Him. His steadfast love is not mechanical or distant—it is covenantal, personal, and faithful across generations. Obedience is the evidence of love for God, not merely duty. This calls us to joyful obedience rooted in relationship, not obligation, and to remember that our faithfulness leaves a legacy for generations after us.

Deuteronomy 5:11 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”

Similar to Deuteronomy 5:8, this verse warns that we must never make light of God, to speak of Him in a casual sense. The thought of God’s Holiness and Majesty should leave us undone, totally overwhelmed. To use the Name of God carelessly is to depreciate the LORD. Do you understand who you are talking about?

Taking God’s name in vain includes more than profanity; it means treating His name, character, and reputation lightly. We must live lives that honor God’s name through integrity, reverence, and seriousness about our witness. It is a warning against superficial Christianity and an invitation to live so that God’s name is glorified through us.

Deuteronomy 5:12, 15 — “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you….. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

The Sabbath command is not just about physical rest but more importantly spiritual trust. It reminded Israel that they were not slaves anymore—they could rest because they were under God’s provision, not Pharaoh’s tyranny. Christians today are not under the ceremonial Sabbath laws, but we are still called to Sabbath principles: regularly resting in God’s finished work, setting aside time for worship, and remembering our identity as His redeemed people.

Much like tithes, offerings, and gifts, the Sabbath makes no sense from the human perspective — a whole day of being totally unproductive. Imagine how the Israelites must have felt about the Sabbath day while living in the desert where food and water was hard to acquire. When God commanded the Sabbath, he reminded His people of His provision. The Sabbath day is a weekly choice to acknowledge that God is in control, not us; that our survival and success depends on Him, not on our own efforts; that we trust Him rather than in our own abilities. It is more than a day off from work, it is an act of faith and a proclamation of faith before the world. Deuteronomy 5:14, 15 – “…that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” God knows that you need rest and that you need to be reminded that your provision comes from Him, not from your efforts. He also knows that He has to make you rest through a command. Also, He expects you to enable others to rest. So, you taking the Sabbath means that others will too. If no one went to restaurants on Sunday, restaurant employees would be forced to take that day off. Also, everyone would know that God was the source of that rest. Some believe that the Sabbath is no longer something God expects because Jesus “fulfilled” the Law. However, I would be willing to bet that you are not getting your rest, allowing others to get their rest, or glorifying God as well as you could if everyone knew you didn’t work on Sunday.

• Nehemiah 13:19-20 — “As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.” What a powerful international testimony. Israel was the cross-roads of trade within the global region. When the Israelites honored the Sabbath, all trade stopped. Everyone knew why – God’s people were honoring God.

Deuteronomy 5:16 — “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

The most important earthly institution established by God is the family, and God has given special responsibility and authority to family. The purpose of marriage is to raise up Godly children (Malachi 2:15), and God has built His Kingdom on earth from families. God also said that the marriage is the earthly model of Christ’s love for the church. God intends for both parents and children to learn about obedience to authority through the family. The family is the school house for character development. A person who doesn’t respect and honor their parents (despite their imperfections) is a dishonorable person.

The call to honor parents is rooted in God’s design for human relationships. Honoring authority in the family establishes a pattern of respect for God’s authority. Honoring parents—whether they are godly or not—reflects our obedience to God and shapes healthy communities. This commandment teaches humility, gratitude, and relational stewardship.

Deuteronomy 5:17-21 — “You shall not murder. And you shall not commit adultery. And you shall not steal. And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.”

The majority of the Ten Commandments (six of ten) deal with how we treat others. We love God primarily through loving others. Christians should be masters of love. Jesus said that if you love Him, you will obey His commandments, and His primary commandment is to love others. How you treat others reveals how much you really love God.

Deuteronomy 5:29 – Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

Religious moments in your life will not bring you joy, peace, and fulfillment. We cannot simply court God, we must be married to Him and totally faithful to Him. The Bible describes disobedience as spiritual adultery.

Deuteronomy 5:32, 33 – “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”

Salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned, but is must be taken and then used to obey Him. Obedience is our opportunity to experience the joy of God. God only wants the very best for you, but you must do what He says to have the very best. This is not hard to understand. Why throw away God’s gifts for you through disobedience?

God’s path is straight, but it requires careful, intentional walking. Christians are warned here against the dangers of spiritual drifting or compromise. To walk faithfully means living with daily alertness, resisting both legalism (adding to God’s commands) and license (subtracting from them). Faithfulness is not a sprint but a steady, lifelong walk, empowered by grace. Today, it calls us to deliberate, prayerful choices to align every part of life with God’s way.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 27 April 2025: Today, choose to praise God in the midst of your difficulties, offering Him thanksgiving even before deliverance comes. Specifically, set aside time today to write out a prayer of gratitude for who God is and for His steadfast love, regardless of your present circumstances. Then, commit to “carefully walking” in obedience by choosing one specific area where you will intentionally align your thoughts, words, or actions with God’s Word. Make it measurable by writing it down and praying over it each morning and evening for the next seven days.