NorMel House Devotions

My father once said, "There's no artist like The Artist," and that sentence has stuck with me ever since. It's what comes to mind when I see a beautiful sunset or a blooming flower; indeed, so much of creation reminds me of God's power. The overwhelming sense of grandeur when standing on the edge of a canyon, or hearing the thunder boom, is a gift. It's incredible to think of all the amazing, intricate,  and beautiful things God has, and continues to, give.  Everyone has been given talents, but I find myself drawn to the ones that evoke feelings and emotions. I admit I'm a little envious of those whose talents lie in the arts. Hearing a beautiful voice singing, or a well-played instrument, or absorbing the beauty of a painting or sculpture, can have a profound impact on one's emotions. So often I find peace in the beauty of this world that our awesome God has created. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above procla...

Psalm 6: My soul is greatly troubled. God’s wrath against sin is great and something that unrepentant sinners should truly fear. David was very ill, and people were saying that his sickness was a punishment from God for his sin. He was greatly disturbed by this and afraid of dying because of his sins. David wept and pleaded with God because he did not want to die in his sin; he wanted to live in remembrance of and praise to God. There are times in our lives when we, like David, live in fear. We may fear the possibility that our sins are so great that they’re unforgivable, or we may be afraid of what lies ahead in our future. When we struggle with our health, or disputes and controversies with others, or perhaps even the consequences of our own sins, we may, like David, fear death, but also the possibility that we may fall further into our sin and then be punished by God for it. As believers, these fears are often misplaced; Jesus took God’s full wrath against all sin. “For our sake...

Psalm 5 –  LEAD ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (See Below) Psalm 5 is a lament but also a reminder of who God is. He is our King and our God. He is just but also shows steadfast love and preserves His children. This should have a profound effect on how we live our lives. Our relationship with God is the most important one in our lives, and as such, we ought to make it our priority. You’ll notice that both Psalm 4 and Psalm 5 start with a cry for help at different times of the day. Psalm 4 speaks of going to sleep in peace, whereas Psalm 5 reminds us that God hears our prayers in the morning. These prayers show us that we ought to start and end our day with prayer. Prayer is how we communicate with God and therefore an important part of our relationship with Him. Prayer not only helps us grow in our relationship with God, but it also allows us to commit our whole lives to Him. Every morning we can start fresh; before the chaos of our lives fills our minds with other things, we are bless...

Psalm 4 – Answer Me When I Call – See Below Once again, David calls out to the LORD in his distress. While the exact date of Psalm 4's composition is unknown, it makes sense that it follows Psalm 3. It, too, can be a response to his son Absalom’s betrayal and his supporters. David speaks of men who were spreading lies about him and trying to bring shame to his name. Absalom was a great source of stress and trouble for David; he turned many of the people against David and usurped the throne. Whether he was writing in response to this or not, we can understand how frustrating it is when the world around us believes lies instead of God’s truth. Satan earnestly seeks to destroy God’s people and tries to tempt us with many false gods, delusions, half-truths, and lies. When we are dealing with this type of attack, it can feel relentless at times, causing us to despair. David starts the Psalm with a plea for help, calling on God for relief. He recalls God’s faithfulness in the past ...

  Psalm 3 - See below David’s son, Absalom, loved his sister Tamar. When he found out that their own brother, Ammon, had violated her, he killed Ammon. Fearing his father’s wrath, he then fled to Geshu. When David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he commanded him to stay out of his presence. This continued for 2 years (see 2 Samuel 14:28). After 2 years, Absalom “came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom” (2 Samuel 14:33). Absalom spent the next 4 years undermining David’s authority and “gaining the hearts of the people.” (See 2 Samuel 15). He sat at the city gates, charming them daily and turning them against David. After the 4 years, Absalom sent messengers throughout the tribes of Israel, planning a coup. In 2 Samuel 15, David flees to prevent a blood bath from Absalom’s takeover. In Psalm 3, David cries out to God because his own son rose against him and stole the hearts of the people. In verses 1 and ...

Psalm 2: The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed – see below When we looked at the first Psalm, it became obvious that the company we keep matters. In Psalm 2, we see what happens to those with whom we shouldn’t spend time: those who mock the Lord God and His people. Our society thinks that we all can have our own beliefs, and yet, it mocks Christians for believing in the one true God. God’s word gives us comfort because we see that, although evil may seem to prosper at times, God is in control and He will punish those who “plot in vain” against Him. David’s words in Psalm 2 are prophetic, describing the rebellion of the nations, but also the coming of the Messiah. In verse 7, he points forward to when God would say of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17). David also knew that God had anointed him to be king, and he trusted God’s promises. A Savior would come into the world through his own bloodline; true God, true Man, the only begotten Son of God....