Sore Displeased
- 7 hours ago
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Daily Reading: Matthew 21
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21.14-16)
Devotional Thought: The blind. The lame. Children. These people were praising Jesus while the chief priests and scribes were indignant. Throughout the Old Testament, priests had worked hand in hand with prophets. But these priests were "sore displeased" (KJV) with this prophet named Jesus. The entire Jewish nation had been anticipating the coming of a prophet after 400 years of silence from God. Yet, chief priests were not even mildly curious about. They just wanted a reason to accuse him. Those who should have known better were "sore displeased."
In contrast, we find the children of Jerusalem "preparing praise" for the Lord. This prepared praise by the children reminds me how unpretentious children are when praising God. When they sing of God's love, they do so because they believe it. When they say, “Hosanna to the 'Son of David'” they mean it wholeheartedly. Adults, however, tend to just go through the motions. As a matter of fact, they get "sore displeased" when the worship isn't quite up to their standards or preferences.
How about you? Are you preparing to praise to the Lord? Or are you "sore displeased"?
Amanda and Dara Walker
Prayer: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" I have prepared my heart, O Lord, to give you praise, for you are worthy! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 94.1-7
1 O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”