by Rev. Daniel R. Hyde
in ePub, mobi & .pdf formats
Introduction
“Oh how I love your law!” (Ps. 119:97) “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being” (Rom. 7:22). These are the confessions of the new affections of those born again and adopted as children of God. For if the Word of God is “inspired,” that is, spoken by the very mouth of God through his servants the prophets and apostles (2 Tim. 3:16), whom he guided to write down his words (2 Peter 1:20–21), then we as the children of God must read it with affection.
The devil knows this. Because he does he wants to keep us from obtaining, opening, reading, meditating upon, and living according to the Word of our heavenly Father. Satan wants to cause us to live in ignorance and error, which are the foundations of his defiant and deviant kingdom. This is why ancient preachers like John Chrysostom (347–407), said, “This is the cause of all evils: not knowing the Scriptures,” and ancient commentators like Jerome (347–420), said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
For this reason the Christian church has historically been committed to reading large portions of Scripture every time God’s people gather to be served by him. But this public reading is just the beginning of our reading the Word, as we must take that example and apply it at home, as families, couples, and individuals. As the English Puritan, Thomas Manton (1620–1677), said, “A family is the seminary of Church and State.” When we read the Word we grow, the church matures, and society is affected by our godliness.
The following devotions through the Psalms were produced as a weekly guide for the benefit of the Oceanside United Reformed Church. They are intended to assist you in reading through the Word daily and systematically. Because many of us have little children and because many of us have difficulty with finding the time necessary to read the Word, the readings are intentionally short. Far too many of us start every year with the best intention of reading through the entire Bible, only to forget or become discouraged soon after, leading us to stop completely. With short readings, then, I intend to help you be in the Word regularly with manageable portions. Along with each reading I have also added a verse or verses to meditate on throughout the day. Highlight these in your Bible; try to memorize some of these; recite them as you drive in the car. I have also added brief bullet points under each reading as a way to stimulate personal and communal thought and discussion.
The Word of God is “sweeter…than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10). Taste of your Father’s goodness, dear child of God!
Rev. Daniel R. Hyde
Oceanside United Reformed Church, Carlsbad/Oceanside, CA