A Psalm about The God Who Loves and Saves

Posted on June 14, 2026 by Wayne Davies

I’ve been working on Volume 4 of my series, “Psalms Bible Study Guides” — How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 107-150.

The following is an excerpt. Lord willing, it will be published later this year.

 

A Psalm about The God Who Loves and Saves — Psalm 107

“The Bible is a book about God.”

So wrote Jen Wilkin in her book, Women of the Word.

The profound truth of that sentence has been embedded in my brain since the day I first read it. It is my favorite way to answer the question, “What is the Bible all about?”

God is certainly center stage in Psalm 107. More specifically, the unnamed psalmist wants us to thank God often for his attribute of love and his action of salvation.

Please read the psalm and note how often the psalmist mentions God’s love and salvation:
God’s love: verses 1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43
God’s salvation: verses 2, 6, 13, 19, 28

Another favorite quote of mine is “Repetition is a great teacher.” We see that here, don’t we?

The words “save” or “salvation” do not actually appear in this psalm, but two synonyms of “save” are used: redeem (v. 2) and deliver (v. 6, 13, 19, 28).

In Scripture, God’s attributes and actions are inseparable and therefore appear together often. The character of God is demonstrated through the conduct of God.

The psalmist begins by saying that “the LORD… is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (v. 1). Then he says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands” (v. 2-3).

God’s goodness and love (two magnificent attributes) are demonstrated through God’s redemption of his people from exile (one amazing action). The opening three verses set the stage for the main section of the psalm (v. 4-32), the centerpiece of this hymn. Here we find four easily identifiable sub-sections — based on the four paragraphs of the ESV or NIV:

Story #1 – v. 4-9
Story #2 – v. 10-16
Story #3 – v. 17-22
Story #4 – v. 23-32

If you are fond of alliteration, these paragraphs could be entitled: “4 Stories of Salvation,” or “4 Pictures of Peril,” or “4 Tales of Trouble.”

Q1. Read through verses 4-32 and record your thoughts on each of the four stories by answering these questions:

a. In your own words, describe the perilous situation. What kind of trouble are God’s people experiencing?

b. What is the cause of their trouble? (Story #1 may not reveal the cause, but Stories #2, 3, and 4 certainly do.)

c. How does God show his love for his people? Specifically, what does he do for them?

Q2. All four stories focus on God’s provision of physical, temporal salvation for his people. As you reflect on your own life, how has God delivered you from one or more of these physical perils? Write out a brief description of a troublesome time and what God did to save you. Examples could be: an illness, a financial setback, a death in the family, an accident, a job loss, etc.

Q3. When answering Question 1, you may have noticed that Story #2 and Story #3 include clear references to the sin of God’s people, as well as God’s response to that sin, as the cause of the trouble. Can you recall times of trouble that you brought on yourself because of your sin? What did God teach you through that situation? Did you confess your sin and repent?

Q4. In each of the four salvation stories, we see this repeated verse:
“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble” (v. 6, 13, 19, 28). In your own life, what does it look like when you “cry out to the LORD in your trouble”? For example, do you tend to do this by yourself, with other believers, or both?

Q5. In Story #3, we read that God “sent out his word and healed them” (v. 20). As you reflect on your own salvation stories, what impact did the Word of God have in God’s provision of your deliverance? What specific passages of Scripture did God use to facilitate his salvation? Take time to read them now and offer praise to God for these precious words!

Q6. As you meditate on God’s physical salvation, please note the psalmist’s repeated exhortations to offer thanksgiving to God for both his attribute of love and his action of salvation (see verses 8, 15, 21, and 31). Maybe you have done that many times already. Or maybe not. Either way, please take time now to express your gratitude to God in writing. Use your pen or keyboard to pour out your heart to him. Tell him how thankful you are for his goodness, love, and “wondrous works to the children of men.”

Q7. Verse 32 encourages us to “extol him (God) in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.” Why not set a goal to express your thankfulness to other believers this week, either in a formal or informal setting, whether in a worship service, a small group, or a one-on-one conversation? You are more likely to accomplish this goal by writing it down right now and asking God to empower you to “extol him” in the presence of others.

Posted in Attributes of God, Thoughts on the Psalms | Leave a comment

What Your Pastor Is Doing Today

Posted on June 7, 2026 by Wayne Davies

Do you ever wonder what your pastor does every day?

You may see him on Sunday morning, in the pulpit, preaching a sermon.

What about the rest of the week? What does he do?

Here’s one man’s take on that.

The following is a letter written by a 61-year old father, an itinerant evangelist who spent thousands of hours in hundreds of churches, to his 34-year old son, a college professor, who is considering a call to become the pastor of a church:

“Now I want you to remember a few things about the pastorate.

“Being a pastor today involves more than merely preaching and teaching.

“You will be the comforter of the fatherless and the widow. You will counsel constantly with those whose hearts are broken. You will have to handle a divorce problem and a thousand marital details, divorces, and situations.

“You will have to exhort and advise young people involved in sordid and illicit sex, with drugs and violence. You will have to visit the hospitals, the shut-ins, the elderly. A mountain of problems will be laid on your shoulders and at your doorstep.

“And then there is the heartache of ministering to a weak, carnal, and worldly apathetic group of professing Christians, very few of whom will be found trustworthy and dependable.

“Then there will be a hundred administrative responsibilities as a pastor. You are the generator and sometimes the janitor. The church will look to you for guidance in building programs, in church growth, in youth activities, in outreach, and in extra services.

“You will be called upon to arbitrate all kinds of problems.

“At times, you will feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Many pastors have broken under the strain.

“If the Lord has called you, these things will not deter you or dismay you, but I wanted you to know the whole picture.

“As in all our Lord’s work, there will be a thousand compensations.

“You will see the people trust Christ as Savior and Lord. You will see these people grow in the knowledge of Christ in His Word. You will witness saints enabled by your preaching to face all manner of tests. You will see God at work in human lives.

“And there is no joy comparable to this.

“Just ask yourself, son, if you are prepared, not only to preach and teach, but also to weep over men’s souls, to care for the sick and dying, and to bear the burdens carried today by the saints of God.”

Source: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3816317742010359

That’s what your pastor is doing today and tomorrow and the next day.

How can you help? Pray for him, as often as you can.

Posted in Famous Christians, Quotes, Sermons | Leave a comment

Why Would a Good God Make a Bad Place Like Hell?

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Wayne Davies

Have you ever heard this question . . .

“Why would a good God make a bad place like hell?”

It’s a common question. Perhaps you have asked it.

And perhaps you are still asking this question because you have yet to hear a good answer – an answer that is reasonable and biblical.

Here’s one that I read recently. It’s written by Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason.

“The simple answer to the question of why a good God would make a bad place like Hell is that it’s precisely because God is good that he made Hell. Further, Hell isn’t a bad place. It’s a good place.

“I realize that sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true.

“No good government allows guilty criminals to roam free. It locks them up in prison. Incarceration doesn’t just isolate felons, though, preventing them from harming law-abiding citizens. It also punishes them for the wrongs they’ve committed. Any government that didn’t sentence outlaws wouldn’t be good because it wouldn’t be just.

“In the same way, God would not be good if he simply let evil people go free. When people are punished in God’s court, they get exactly what they deserve. The books of death are opened for all to see. (See Revelation 20:12-13. I call them “the books of death” because they’re contrasted with the book of life, a record of all the redeemed.) Every wrong anyone has ever committed is recorded there.

“At that great white throne judgment, God dispenses perfect justice – punishment for everything a person has ever done wrong, and God misses nothing. Those whose names are written in the book of life, though, do not get punished since Jesus has taken their punishment for them. They receive perfect mercy – forgiveness for everything they’ve ever done wrong, and God misses nothing. Either Jesus pays, or we pay. That’s the calculus.

“Hell, then, is a good place in the same way that prisons are good. It may not be subjectively good – it’s no fun going there – but it is objectively good because a good purpose is accomplished there: justice.”
Source: https://www.str.org/w/rapid-fire-part-1

I believe that you just read one of the most compelling yet concise explanations of the reasonableness of hell. I like that it’s based on the character of our holy God – the One who is both gracious and just. A gospel without the justice and wrath of God is a truncated and distorted gospel. May God help us to present the gospel in its entirety, as Greg Koukl has done above.

What do you think of Mr. Koukl’s explanation of why hell exists? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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3 Habits That Will Change How You Read the Bible

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Wayne Davies

I keep finding well-written articles about how to spend quality time with God in His Word.

A few weeks ago, it was this one:
How to Get in the Routine of Regular Bible Study

Here’s another one:
3 Spiritual Habits That Will Change How You Read the Bible

It’s written by Joe Carter, senior writer for The Gospel Coalition and associate pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia.

He writes wonderfully and begins by answering the question, “What are spiritual habits?”

Then he explains three distinct habits that enable you to engage Scripture:

1-Breadth: Hearing the Whole Story
2-Depth: Reading the Same Book Again and Again
3-Internalization: Getting God’s Word into Your Heart

Any one of these three habits will enhance your understanding of Scripture and your love for the God who wrote it.

I commend these free resources to you today.

Let me know how you benefit from them by leaving a comment below.

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What to Do When the Darkness Closes In

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Wayne Davies

I like the way David makes bold statements about his zeal for God.

Here’s one, from Psalm 138:1.

“I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart.”

 

I want to take a deeper dive into this prayer, especially the phrase “with my whole heart.”

What is the heart? It is usually defined as the emotions. And that’s a good start.

Let’s take a look at what the Hebrew word means (“lev”). According to one well-respected Hebrew dictionary (Brown-Driver-Briggs), “lev” refers to “the inner man, mind, will, heart . . . the inner man in contrast to the outer . . . i.e., the soul, comprehending mind, affections, and will.”

In the Bible, the heart is much more than our feelings. Yes, it can mean the affections, but it also includes the mind, the will, and the soul. It’s the entire inner person, the control center for the real you – all of you.

So David is making quite a statement here. He is saying to God, “I will give you thanks with all my heart” (NASB). Whoa! This is quite a declaration.

The Message captures the meaning well: “Thank you! Everything in me says ‘Thank you!”

Do I give thanks to God with that kind of wholehearted devotion? Sometimes, yes. But sometimes, no.

Some days my desire for God isn’t what it should be. I have days when I just don’t feel like praising God, so I don’t. I may do it anyway, out of duty, because I know I’m supposed to. And that doesn’t feel good either because then I feel like a hypocrite.

And sometimes I don’t want to thank God. That, too, feels lousy.

Then there are days when I don’t feel like reading the Bible. But again, I still do it because I find it a hard habit to break. Yet doing it only out of duty is a downer.

I have days when I’m on fire for God. And then there are days when the fire goes out, and I’m flat. My zeal can vary from day to day.

I ask God to forgive me for my fickleness. I confess my inconsistency, and I ask God to renew my love for him.

When I read the Bible, even when I don’t want to, I usually end up in a better place; specifically, in the presence of God. When I read the Word, He is speaking to me whether or not I am listening. And when I finally tune in, He is speaking loud and clear.

I had one of these spiritual dry times recently, back in March. It lasted about two weeks. I didn’t like it. And I don’t think God did either. I’m glad it’s over. I missed Him.

He was there the whole time. And I missed Him.

He was there, but where was I? Ironically alone, a sad and dark place to be.

Like Paul, I was in Romans 7. He was transparent about his ongoing battle with sin. He confesses that he continues to sin, even though he hates it: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (v. 15).

He grows weary of the never-ending war against his flesh – “Wretched man that I am!” (v. 24).

Fortunately, in the same breath, he acknowledges that there is a solution to the problem – “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25) because He “will deliver me from this body of death” (v. 24).  Jesus, whose name literally means “Yahweh saves,” is able to rescue us from the tyranny of sin.

So there is hope for me, too, when my passion for God dissipates, and the darkness closes in. I can go to Jesus, my high priest who is interceding for me, and confess my apathy and dryness of soul, and cry out for mercy, and He will forgive me and restore me to Himself and to my Father.

By the end of March, that is what happened. God granted me the gift of repentance and Jesus “drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (Psalm 40:2).

It didn’t happen suddenly or abundantly. But it happened, slowly but surely, over several days. I tend to drift away from God as a stubborn stoic and return as a bankrupt beggar.

What do you do when your zeal for God goes flat, and the darkness will not lift?

Posted in Bible reading, Thoughts on the Psalms | 1 Comment

A Mother’s Day Message

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Wayne Davies

Happy Mother’s Day to you!

To Moms everywhere, thank you for all you do for us.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

And may your time with God in His Word be a source of spiritual nourishment for your soul.

As a gift for you this Mother’s Day, here’s a free eBook for you to download:

Mom Enough: The Fearless Mother’s Heart and Hope

This is a collection of 24 articles on all things motherhood, including . . .

Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)
Motherhood Is a Mission Field
How Eternity Shapes Our Mundane
Desperate, Breathless, Dependent Parenting
and much more.

Enjoy!

 

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How to Go Deeper in Your Understanding of the Bible

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Wayne Davies

Here’s an easy way to understand the Bible at a deeper level:

Listen to good Bible teaching.

I trust you get to do that every Sunday at your local church.

How about the rest of the week? I hope you’re spending time in the Word on a daily basis, reading and studying it on your own.

And perhaps you’re part of a small group Bible study that meets during the week.

But back to the practice of listening to the Word . . .

Over the past few years, I’ve gotten into the habit of listening to a number of evangelical Bible teachers while taking daily walks in the neighborhood.

Thanks to the internet and a smartphone, I can listen to many sound Bible teachers with the click of a link. Don’t you love it when modern technology is used for the glory of God?

One of my favorite Bible teachers is John Piper. Here’s one of his resources that has become one of my favorite ways to hear God’s Word:

Look at the Book

You can check it out on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/@desiringGod/playlists

It is also available via Apple Podcasts here:
https://www.desiringgod.org/podcasts

These videos stand out for their in-depth, verse-by-verse expositions of complete books of the Bible. In short 10-15 minute segments, Dr. Piper takes you through a book of the Bible from start to finish, unpacking each verse, explaining the meaning of paragraphs, sentences, phrases, and words, and teaching God’s truth clearly and profoundly.

Make no mistake – this is a “deeper dive” into the bottomless wellspring of God’s Word. I find this type of teaching to be captivating, edifying, and sanctifying. So I commend this resource to you.

To date, these New Testament books have been covered:

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and 1 Peter.

Enjoy!

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What to Expect from God When You Read the Bible

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Wayne Davies

When you read the Bible, what are your expectations of God?

What would you like Him to do for you, in you, and through you, as a result of spending time in His Word?

Here’s a suggestion.

It’s based on 2 Timothy 3:14-17 . . .

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NIV).

This is an incredible passage. Here we see how Scripture is indispensable in God’s work of changing us:

The Word gives us the wisdom to receive salvation through faith in Christ, and then Scripture transforms us through God’s work of sanctification by teaching us, rebuking us, correcting us, and training us in righteousness, all for the purpose of equipping us to do good works that advance the kingdom and bring glory to Jesus.

Before reading the Word, here’s a prayer I like to pray:

“Lord, thank you for giving us your Word. Thank you for giving us your truth in written form, and I thank you for all the people who taught us how to read words at a young age.

“I thank you that I can read the Bible, and by the power of your Spirit, understand it and hear your voice speaking to me.

“As I read your Word today, please come and teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me in righteousness. And then enable me to do good works today that show people who you are and how great you are.

“I ask for this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

When you read the Word, feel free to make this prayer your own.

For more thoughts on how to pray when reading the Bible, check out this article:
Do You Make This Mistake When Reading the Bible?

What do you pray for when you read the Word? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

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How to Get in the Routine of Regular Bible Study

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Wayne Davies

Do you desire to study the Bible but have trouble making it a consistent habit?

Here’s a free resource to help you structure your study time so that you don’t feel overwhelmed each time you open your Bible.

 

Author Glenna Marshall has written a short but thorough article entitled:

How Can I Get in the Routine of Regular Bible Study?

I love this article. Glenna offers great advice on these important questions:

  • How often should I study the Bible?
  • What should I do on a day when I don’t study the Bible?
  • Does God love me less because I didn’t study the Bible today?
  • How much time should I spend studying the Bible?
  • When should I study the Bible? What time of day is best for me?
  • Where should I study the Bible?
  • What should I study?
  • What supplies do I need?

Here’s the link again:
https://www.crossway.org/articles/how-to-get-in-the-routine-of-regular-bible-study/

After you read it, let me know how you benefited by leaving a comment below.

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What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast”?

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Wayne Davies

I’ve been reading Paul’s letters lately.

Here’s one of the most positive things he ever wrote to one of the churches he started:

“Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love.”
1 Thessalonians 3:6

After leaving town because of intense opposition from the Jews (see Acts 17:1-10), Paul was so concerned about the young Christians in Thessalonica that he sent Timothy to find out how they were doing. Like Paul, they, too, were facing persecution, and Paul wrote this letter to encourage them to continue in the faith in the midst of much affliction and tribulation.

When Paul hears how well they are doing spiritually, he is greatly encouraged:

“We have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before God” (1 Thessalonians 3:7-8).

I was confused, however, when I read the phrase, “standing fast” (ESV). What does that mean? How can we “stand fast”? I know how to stand still, but how do I stand fast?

So I went to BibleGateway.com and looked up how other translations render this verse. Here’s the New American Standard Bible:

“For now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 3:8 NASB

“Stand firm” makes more sense to me than “Stand fast”!

Then I went to BibleRef.com and learned even more about the meaning of “stand firm.”

The Greek word for “stand firm” is “a military term that describes soldiers firmly holding their ground against an enemy.” The Thessalonian believers were “holding their ground against attacks from the Devil and his forces. False teachers were trying to detour them from the truth, and persecution was fierce. Nevertheless, they stood firm. They grasped the anchor of hope firmly so they would not drift away from the faith.”

Paul used this word often to motivate believers to continue in the faith while enduring opposition and affliction . . .

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm.”
Galatians 5:1

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11

“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”
Philippians 4:1

Perhaps you are facing opposition from those hostile to the faith, or maybe you are experiencing stress from any number of difficult circumstances. If so, please join me in praying this prayer:

Oh God, please give me and my believing friends the faith to stand firm in Christ! Strengthen our resolve to be faithful to you – no matter what happens to us and regardless of what happens in the world. Keep us strong in the faith, “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Posted in Suffering, Thoughts on the Thessalonians | Tagged | Leave a comment