"My Strength and Shield" March 22 Readings: Psalms 25, 28, 33, 36, 39

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Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026

This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: Psalms 25, 28, 33, 36, 39

In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer. 

Background:  

More Psalms of David, calling out to God. David's songs express his heart, his emotions - everything he is going through directly to God. When life overwhelmed him, he did not complain to others; he took his pain and hurt to the source of healing, the Creator God who loved him. 

Daily Devotional: My Strength and Shield

Two things come to mind when you consider the life of David, the Psalmist. First, from the moment he was accosted by and anointed by Samuel to be the King of Israel, his life was difficult. Later he was the cause of some of his own problems when he sinned with Bathsheba, but early on he was the victim of the jealousy and evil of an increasingly unstable man, King Saul. Saul pursued him, harassed him, lied about him, and repeatedly tried to kill him. David spent time hiding out in caves and living in exile because of Saul's envy and hatred.

But the most notable thing about David was that he took his pain to God. That is what the Psalms are all about. A friend of mine recently observed that it didn't matter how David felt or what was going on in his life; he sang praises to God no matter what. My friend is right. When David was happy, he went to God. When David was angry, he went to God. When people betrayed him, he took it to God. When enemies threatened him, he called on God for help.

And God helped him. Every time. In Psalm 28:7-8, David spells out some of the help he received from the hand of the Lord.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people;
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

When I am weak and I struggle to see how I can make it through another day, the Lord is my strength.

When enemies attack me as they did David, I am not alone. Yahweh is my shield, and I am protected!

When I trust in God and depend on him I know that whatever help I truly need, I will receive. I may not get all that I want, but I will have all that I need. 

When life is confusing, overwhelming, stressful, or discouraging, I know that there is a stronghold to which I can run, a place of peace and calm, a refuge from life's storms. That refuge is not a place, but a person. Yahweh is my strength and my stronghold. 

David knew that life would not always be easy, but he knew that whatever came, he could trust in God and he would be helped!
Thank you, Lord, that whenever I trust in you, I find help. You are my strength, you are my protection. You are my refuge. 

 

Consider God's Word:

Do you trust God fully and completely?
When things go wrong and the world is falling apart, is your faith in him unshaken?

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