One of the feasts that all the Jews celebrated during the time of Jesus was the Feast of Passover. They celebrated the Feast of Passover on the first month of their calendar year, called the month of Nisan, which was in March-April in our current calendar. During the time of the Feast of Passover, all Jews from all over the world would come to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices for their sins and remember how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt by sending the ten plagues to Egypt. The tenth plague was the worst plague when God killed the firstborn of each house that didn't have the blood of a lamb or a young goat on their doorpost. The angel of death passed over the house that had the blood on the doorpost and entered the house that didn't have the blood of the animal and killed the firstborn son in the house (Exodus 12:13-28). God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Passover each year to remember that He rescued them from slavery and gave them a new life in the promised land. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus always went to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover every year. As they and the other Jews traveled by foot to Jerusalem, one of the Psalms that they sang was Psalm 84.
Psalm 84 says, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven's armies, my King and my God! What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises." Although some of the Jews traveled far and passed through some dangerous areas along the way, they were always longing for the presence of God in the temple of Jerusalem. As they traveled by foot and sang Psalm 84 and other accent Psalms, they were encouraged to keep on traveling even though the travel was tiresome and dangerous. May our hearts be encouraged to worship God today, no matter what our circumstances are. Let us remember the great things that He has done in our lives and worship Him.
When we remember all that God has done in our lives, we are encouraged to continue worshiping Him. If He took care of us in the past, He will surely take care of us in our current situation. Let us worship our God today and give thanks for all that He has done in our lives.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is the importance of remembering the great things that God has done in my life? Describe one specific event in the past in which God did a great thing in my life. What lesson did God teach me today in today's daily devotion?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, I praise and worship you for all the great things that you have done in my life. I am what I am today because of what you have done in my life. Thank you for helping me during difficult moments and providing everything that I needed. Please help me to continue to trust in you and continue to worship you in everything that I do. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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