IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009

I am back to the bones today, briefly I think. You will recall we were reading in Psalm 34 yesterday. And today I am reading in Psalm 35 which is a prayer for God to contend, stand against and deliver the Psalmist from his enemies. It’s a graphic request. Verses 1 through 8 pled with God to, let me paraphrase, draw and quarter his adversaries. And in verse 9 he sets forth his intentions to rejoice and praise the Lord for His deliverance. I was moving right along with these verses and at verse 10 I abruptly stopped for there it was again. BONES. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like You, You Who deliver the poor and the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who snatches away his goods? And so in light of yesterday I thought, hum the Psalmist must be anticipating and warming up to praise the Lord with all his strength, with his whole frame. I mean just pour his whole being into praising the Lord. And I think that is true but I think commentary from C.H. Spurgeons’s The Treasury of David says it better. Here, let me give you an excerpt and the web link:
http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/tod/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=035&verse=010

Even if worn to skin and bone, yet my very skeleton shall magnify the Lord, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him. God is the champion, the true knight errant of all oppressed ones.
Verse 10. All my bones, etc. These words contain the most vivid description of the highest delight which by the whole soul and body should be experienced and openly manifested. He mentions his soul Psalms 35:9 and all his bones as about to take part in the joy, to indicate that he most heartily and with his whole body was about to rejoice, and that the joy which he would manifest would not be of an ordinary character, but of the highest order, so that each several bone should sing forth the praises of God. Herman Venema, 1697-1787.
The expression therefore is highly poetical, and indicates that the[y] joy intended would be far beyond ordinary and common delight; it would be so profound that even the most callous part of the human frame would partake of it.
We have much to learn about praising the Lord, don’t we? May we learn and experience ‘bone happy’ praise before this year is out.
1/6/09 4:14 PM report on Kay E. : Kathie, Kay is still in ICU. They had to remove her spleen. There was a lot of internal bleeding. Her mom wasn’t able to tell me much more. I will be staying at the hospital tomorrow night. Thank you again for the prayers & concern. Beverly
ABBA, it is not that I want to experience the grief and misery that an enemy can bring upon me but I’d like at least a taste of bone happy praise. And I think our IDOKs would too. So I pray especially for each IDOK who will agree and cooperate that before this year is out we will know more of and experience this kind of praise. And before this year is out LORD grant and place within each of us a desire for Your Word that surpasses every other appetite we have. Thank You ABBA. Thank You LORD Jesus for making this possible for us and Holy Spirit thank You for being the One Who administers this grace to us. Again I ask that You stay Kay’s bleeding and bring her to health and wholeness. And again we come with each one named here. There’s much trouble, hurts, illness, disease, lostness, uncertainty, loneliness, desires to be home from hostile lands, corruption, blatant sin, family contentions, lack of peace, turmoil, war, struggles with flesh, desires to be free from strongholds, some not yet ready to be free but family and friends so much want them to be free and more. Even more than all this is wrapped up in these names and we are interceding now on behalf of each for strength and conviction and resolutions to all this as well as peace and protection and wisdom for Israel and our IDOK Troops. Amen and amen.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Walt. Kay E. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Dot B. Terry and family. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. Jodi H. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B.
Public and Private School Teachers.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)