The reading for day 42 was Psalms 70-89. 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee? 71:20 Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth. 71:21 Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me. This is a beautiful psalm of reliance on God. Even though God brings suffering into our lives, He loves us and saves us and gives us comfort and hope. 73:21 For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart: 73:22 So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was `as' a beast before thee. 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand. 73:24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 73:25 Whom have I in heaven `but thee'? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth; `But' God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. Even when we are, as the NIV says "brute beasts", before God, He holds our hands and keeps our feet from slipping. I hope and believe that one day I will be able to truthfully 100% say that there is nothing on earth that I desire besides Him. He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 76:7-10 says,"You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgement, and the land feared and was quiet - when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah. Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained." What should our view of justice for the afflicted be in light of this passage? How scary is it that God's wrath brings him praise? People will see His wrath poured out against the object of His wrath and praise Him because of it. How many of you enjoy thinking of God in this way? 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of God; He judgeth among the gods. 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah 82:3 Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 82:4 Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. There are some very specific things in this passage of scripture that we don't do. I know that, coming from the conservative south, if anyone mentions helping the poor or feeding the hungry, the "oh they must be a liberal" switch goes off in my head. How terrible is that? Why do my political views, or the views of others for that matter, affect the way I view God's word? Shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't think that it is the governments responsibility to do the things mentioned above, I think it is the church's responsibilty...and we don't do it. How different could our culture be if we actually acted on the things God's word tells us to do? What do you think? 86:8 There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; Neither `are there any works' like unto thy works. 86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name. 86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone. What an amazing claim, that God will bring all nations to worship before Him, because no one else is like Him and no one else could do it. He is God alone! Psalm 89:15 says, "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord." I want to be that guy! I want to be the one who learns to Acclaim You God! I want to walk in the light of Your Presence! Amen. |
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