Psalm 7 - Whose Righteousness?

So it's OK to point out your righteousness.
Hmmmmm. I'm not sure I've thought about righteousness in this way.

Oh.... I've started in the middle. Cheryl says I do that sometimes. I've been thinking about something, maybe even working through supporting arguments for a position I'm about to take, then I start telling Cheryl what I'm thinking and she says, "Wait! You started in the middle of this conversation."

Let me back up.

Without doing a lengthy treatise on Romans 3 and 4, any good student of Romans or the writings of the Apostle Paul knows that any righteousness we have comes because of what Jesus has done for us.
And haven't we all heard a preacher use Isaiah 64:6 to tell us that our own righteousness is as filthy rags?

So how do we reconcile what we've always been taught about our lack of righteousness with David's words in Psalm 7?
v.8 Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.  (emphasis mine)
v.9 make the righteous secure
v.10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.

Keep in mind that I don't work for a perfectly polished sermon with three points and a poem for these blog posts. I'm just asking God to show me something new or important or useful that will change my heart or bring me closer to Him or direct me in how I should live.... and maybe be a help to any who might read.

Yes. The only righteousness we have that counts for salvation is what is given to us by the blood of Jesus when we believe and choose to follow Him and He makes us new creations.
But those who have received the righteousness of God in their lives try to live righteous lives.
Paul said it like this, 
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10 

David lived his life trying to live righteously, not for his salvation, but because he had a relationship with God and wanted to please Him. David could honestly say that he wasn't guilty of the things other accused him of. 

3 LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—

4 if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe— 

5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.

So in this Psalm David isn't really bragging about his righteousness, he's just saying that he doesn't deserve the attacks from Cush, a Benjamite. 

I'm not sure where I'm trying to go with these thoughts where I can make a nice transition sentence, so I'll just jump into some ideas of what I think this Psalm might show us.

We should try to live righteous lives so when we are attacked it isn't deserved. 

It's OK to point out to God that you are living righteously - and that you want Him to take up for you.

Bottom line:

I'm afraid too many of us live sloppy lives, not really caring if we treat people well, do good works, or live up to our calling as a kingdom of priests, because we have been told so many times that the only righteousness that counts is what Christ has done for us. for our salvation that is true, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't live holy lives. Read Galatians 3 again. We were saved FOR GOOD WORKS.  Having the righteousness of Christ is actually all the more reason to live godly, righteous lives. 

Psalm 6 - An Encouraging Example

Here we are on day 6 of our 150 day challenge to read a Psalm a day. The first Psalm contrasts the wicked with the righteous. The second tells the nations to quit rebelling against God. The next four, including today's Psalm, have the psalmists (sometimes identified as David, sometimes not) asking God for help.

I can think of two reasons why this is the case.

1. Even if a person is living righteously - following God - he/she will still have enemies. In fact, Jesus said that if we follow Him we will have people who hate us. Luke 21:17 Everyone will hate you because of me. But He also said that we would be blessed or happy if men hate us because of Him. Matthew 5:11 "Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted."
2. God knew we would have so many troubles in life that we would need several Psalms that talk about how our enemies have surrounded us, how we're wasting away, crying out for help, etc. But more importantly, these Psalms always end with statements of confidence in God, praise to God and/or assurance that God will answer his prayers.

So be encouraged if you are in the middle of a bunch of troubles, especially if your troubles are people hating you because you are a follower of Christ. Follow the example of the Psalmist. Cry out to God. Let Him know how bad you feel. Notice how dramatic David is in telling God how bad life is. Then tell your enemies to get lost because God has heard you.

8 Psalm 6:8-10 Away from me, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame. 

Psalm 5 - Contrast - Practice

(This part, in parentheses, was added last.
This post began as showing a contrast between the righteous and the wicked and ended up encouraging everyone to practice. You'll see....)

There is a sharp contrast seen in this Psalm between the wicked and the righteous. The psalmist is asking God to hear his cries - his prayers and as he does he shows a big contrast not only in people, but in how God responds. (My thoughts below are from reading the NIV and Good News Translations.)

Here are a few contrasts that I noticed right away.

1. The wicked are not welcome in God's presence. In fact, God destroys them.
The righteous can enter God's presence - not because of what they have done, but because of God's love! Which leads the righteous to worship Him.

2. God makes the way straight for the righteous - or as the Good News translation words it, He makes His way plain to follow. The righteous follow God. By contrast, the plots of the wicked bring about their ruin.

3. The wicked are driven from God's presence because of their rebellion, but the righteous take refuge in Him and SING for joy!

Take a look at your life. Do you find yourself following God, worshiping Him and singing for Joy? Or are you often in a big mess because you followed your own plots or rebelled against God?

You'll find yourself following God more consistently and in better ways as you spend time in His Word. His plans for your life aren't going to show up in an email or on television. He speaks through His word and by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Is this a new idea for you? It is for many, so don't be discouraged. Reading a Psalm a Day is a good starting place. Read God's Word, see what He is saying to you, then follow what He says. You'll get better at it as you practice.

You can't learn to play the violin in a day. You can't expect yourself to be the perfect follower of Christ in a day. Practice. Do it. We'll know you're doing better as a follower of Christ when we see you worship and you join in the singing. vv. 7, 11

The video here is a great illustration of getting better as you practice. (Fast forward through it if you'd like. It's a little painful at first, but by the time you get to the end - WOW!)

Psalm 4 - What to do in Troubled Times

I'm guessing that most of us don't have the troubles that David did. It seems like there was always someone wanting to kill him or steal his throne or at least run him out of town.

But that doesn't mean that we don't have troubles of some sort. That's just the way life works. We live in a fallen world with sinful people that basically aren't very nice to each other. And if it's not people giving us troubles then the economy or our job or the weather can give us troubles. Or all of them at the same time!!

Trouble right here in River City
(from a great musical you should watch sometime if you aren't familiar with it)

I'm sure that God inspired David to write so many Psalms about troubles because troubles are the universal story of everyone's lives - at one time or another (or all of the time.) That's why they are included in scripture, so we could see that God knows about our troubles and that even the great King David had them. And then we find the way we should respond.

So what are we to do? Even as he's complaining to God and asking Him to answer, David gives us some great advice to follow in troubled times. Here are some of the things I see in Psalm 4 of what to do in troubled times. (I looked at several translations. Most of the thoughts below were arrived at after reading the Good News Translation and the New International Version - with a little rewording of my own.)

1. Remember that God has chosen the righteous for His own - v.3 Good News Translation
2. Know that God hears you when you call out to Him - v.3
3. Tremble with reverence before God and stop sinning (don't return a sin toward you with more sin) - v.4
4. Search your heart and quit talking! - v.4
5. Offer the right sacrifices to God - v.5 Romans 12:1 says to offer yourself as a living sacrifice
6. Lie down and go to sleep in peace knowing that God has everything under control (if you've done the 5 things above you can do this)

Add your own advice to this list. Oh... and then do it! ha!

Side note 

I have many hard copies of the Bible in many different translations, but the easiest way to look at a passage of scripture in several translations is using www.Crosswalk.com or a similar site. Here is an example of looking at a passage in two translations at one time.

Psalm 3 - Advice for Restless Nights

Do you have sleepless nights? I do. Sometimes the business of life gets to me. Sometimes the troubles of life need me to worry about them for a longer time. (In my mind I need to worry about them.)

What keeps you up at night?

David said that he had thousands of enemies - although he actually just had one main enemy. But the reason it was extra troublesome is because it was his own son! Maybe it is worries about your children that gives you a restless night's sleep.

(by the way... I'm expecting that you've read the Psalm of the Day before you read my comments.)

But David was able to lay down and sleep! Ahhhhh.... wouldn't that be nice?! How did he do that? He trusted in God. He turned his troubles and worries over to the only One who could ultimately sustain him.

Jesus worded it this way in Matthew 6:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Read all of this passage here - Matthew 6:25-34 Don't worry

The Apostle Paul had similar advice.
Philippians 4:

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What's keeping you up at night? Read these verses before you go to bed, present your requests to God. Sleep!

Repeat every night as needed. 

Here's the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing my favorite setting of Psalm 3. (And the subtitles are in Portuguese! How fun is that!?)

Psalm 2 - Useless plots

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness Satan offered him all of the nations if He would bow down to him.
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

If Satan had remembered Psalm 2 he would have known that although he may rule the nations for the time being, and even though he can stir up the nations to rebel against God, God just laughs.

Although the Psalm's first meaning refers to King David, it ultimately refers to Jesus, the conquering Messiah.

With all of the turmoil in the world right now it is easy to feel like things are totally out of control. This Psalm reminds me that all of the plotting of leaders of nations - including our own - to do away with God are useless. God is watching, and waiting, and one day He's going to say "Enough!" and Jesus will come again and the nations will be destroyed.

What does that mean for me today?

Hmmmm.

I would say it means I don't need to worry about our nation rebelling against God. He can take care of Himself.

But it also means that I need to be more faithful in sharing the last verse of Psalm 2.

12 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. NIV

12 

Happy are all who go to him for protection. Good News Translation

The nations will be destroyed, but the Good News of knowing Jesus is that those who go to Him for protection - salvation - will be happy/blessed.

Who do you know that needs to know this great news? Why don't you figure out a good way to share that news with them this week?

Psalm 1 - Smart-Mouth College

Ha! (I'll explain the post title in just a bit.)

I posted yesterday that I'm doing the Psalm a Day challenge again in 2017. My first Psalm a Day challenge was five years ago. Many accepted the challenge and read a Psalm a day and some commented regularly. It was a wonderful project. I'm glad God led me to read and blog about a Psalm a day again this year. It is a fun challenge that makes a nice New Year's goal (if you're looking for one.)

Yesterday I suggested that you read the Psalms in different translations to get a fresh look at the Psalms. I sometimes find myself skimming over words that I'm very familiar with. Maybe that doesn't happen to you.....

So.. haha... I read Psalm 1 in several translations tonight and also in "The Message" (which is NOT a translation, but rather a paraphrase. Maybe I'll post about the difference between the two another time.)

Here is the first verse of Psalm 1 as written in "The Message."

1 How well God must like you - 

you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, 

you don't slink along Dead-End Road, 

you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

(As a side note - don't base your theology or understanding of a passage of scripture on a paraphrase. "Sin-Saloon?" hahaha)

The New Living Translation words that last phrase like this "join in with mockers."

In our current "social media" age it is very easy to "join in with mockers" and have a "smart mouth." I'm amazed at the rude and hateful things that people feel free to share through the seemingly safe distance and semi-anonymity of Facebook and Twitter. Those who find themselves caught in the swamp of mockery are missing out on being blessed and on being a blessing to others.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the one 

who does not walk in step with the wicked 

or stand in the way that sinners take 

or sit in the company of mockers, 

New International Version 

The thing that is going to keep you from falling into the mocking trap (and walking with the wicked and standing with sinners) is spending time in God's Word. It's more than just reading a few verses and a short devotional written by someone else. It's a matter of reading God's Word and then spending some time meditating, contemplating, figuring out what you have read. What does God want you to do with what you have read? 
Start doing something? Stop doing something?
Do something for someone else?
Ask forgiveness? Give forgiveness?

I don't like making a list here because I don't want to limit what you think God might be saying to you. If you ask God to speak to you and spend time in His Word you'll hear from Him. 

But I would like to encourage you in this - use social media as a way to encourage others. Don't be a mocker, but instead share words of life and love. Be salt and light to a world that is overwhelmed with mockery.

Colossians 4:6 NAS

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/colossians/4-6.html

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

I think you'll find that as you work to be a blessing to others instead of a being a mocker that you will in turn find yourself to be blessed as well. (And it's much better than getting a degree from Smart-mouth College. hahaha)