Psalm 11 - What Can We Do?

Psalm 11:3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Ugh! I've had this question run through my mind a lot over the last year with all of the political craziness we've had. It seems that both political parties - as a whole - have abandoned any sense of decent public discourse, integrity, honesty, etc. (I know that there are a lot of great people in public service on both sides of the aisle that are good people who love the Lord and want the best for our country, but they are being overshadowed by the other.) Sometimes I look at the world around us and the USA in particular and I want to join those who were mocking David and say, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

David answers the accusation/question kind of like this.

What are you doing asking such a ridiculous question? God is still on His throne. He observes the righteous and the wicked. You may not see it now, but he will destroy the wicked. And the righteous will see His face. (Lyndel's short paraphrase.)

 When I read verse 7
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
Micah 6:8 came to mind.

He has told you, O man, what is good; 

And what does the LORD require of you 

But to do justice, 

to love kindness, 

And to walk humbly with your God?

Bottom line:

When we see the foundations of our society being destroyed we must remember that God is still on His throne and

Our job is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God. 

If all of God's people lived this way the foundations would no longer be falling apart.

Psalm 10 - Don't Be Mrs. Potts

This is Mrs. Potts.

She got her name because she reminded me of this famous Mrs. Potts.

She is short and round and cute as can be.

But when it comes to being a chicken that can survive with the wildness of life, you have to be more than just round and cute. Mrs. Potts had lots and lots of feathers. You'll notice that even her feet and legs are covered with feathers.

But having a lot of feathers and not much else made her slow getting around. She was usually the last to arrive when the chickens would come running for a treat. She just couldn't maneuver well.

What does this have to do with Psalm 10? I'm so glad you asked.

Psalm 10 begins with the psalmist asking an age-old question that actually will show up in more Psalms as we work our way to day 150. Why do the wicked get away with what they do? They are arrogant and basically thumb their nose at God. So why doesn't God do something about them?

I don't know.... Neither did the psalmist. (Actually, I'll probably address this more with another Psalm.)

Here's what God showed me today - something I hadn't thought about before - and how Mrs. Potts ties in with Psalm 10.

As I was reading about the wicked God showed me how I (we) can defend ourselves against the wicked. Yes, ultimately our defense is found in the Lord. 12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

But we should be spiritually and mentally prepared to face the enemy.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-peter/5-8.html

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Here's what I saw in Psalm 10

• v.7 "His mouth is full of lies and threats" - So we should "stand firm, putting on the belt of truth" Ephesians 6:14
• v.8 "He lies in wait near the villages, from ambush he murders the innocent - So we should stay away from places where it is easy to be overtaken by the wicked see Proverbs 1:8-19
• v.9 "He lies in wait to catch the helpless" - So we need to learn to not be helpless. How did Jesus fight Satan and his temptations? He quoted scripture. Paul worded it this way in Ephesians 6 :16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Mrs. Potts was a beautiful little chicken. I say "was" because last night after the sun went down a raccoon got in the chicken coop before I got home to close the door. She wasn't prepared to face the enemy (I know this is all a stretch - go with me) She was pretty with all of her feathers, but she was slow, she couldn't fight back. I'm sure the roosters fought. I know the bigger faster hens fought and ran fast. All that was left of Mrs. Potts when I looked in the coop was a lot of black feathers.

A sad night at the coop.

Bottom line:

• Don't be all fluff and no substance in your spiritual life.
• Read Ephesians 6 and see how you can be prepared by putting on the full armor of God
• Have scripture memorized - hidden in your heart - so you have a big sword ready to fight.
• Don't name your chickens. It makes it much sadder when a raccoon gets them. :-( 

Psalm 9 - Caught in your own trap

David had a lot of enemies. I suppose that happens when you are in leadership. Someone wants your place or your things.... So once again David is asking God to deliver him from his enemies.

I found verses 15-16 interesting as I read Psalm 9 today. I don't know if this was David's prayer or an observation he made, but notice what he said about the heathen (Good News Translation)

15 The heathen have dug a pit and fallen in; they have been caught in their own trap.16 The Lord has revealed himself by his righteous judgments, and the wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

The heathen have dug a pit and fallen in

caught in their own trap

wicked are trapped by their own deeds

Maybe that's how God often brings judgement or perhaps it's just part of the biblical principle that you reap what you sow. 

Job 4:8 NIV

http://www.biblestudytools.com/job/4-8.html

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.

Hosea 8:7 NIV

http://www.biblestudytools.com/hosea/8-7.html

7 “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Galatians 6:7-10 NASB (New American Standard Bible)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.Bottom line:Well....Galatians 6 seems rather self-explanatory to me. So to the SpiritDon't lose heart in doing good.Do good to all people.Don't be wicked and end up caught in your own trap.

Psalm 8 - Children's Praise

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Psalm 8. It has been a favorite Psalm of hymn and song writers for centuries. I found  new (to me) site www.hymnary.org where you can look to find hymns and songs that have been written using the text from the Bible.  Or you can look at a hymn and see all of the different scriptures that were used or referenced in it.

I checked on Psalm 8. According to hymnary dot org there are 162 hymns and songs written that at least have some lines in them based on Psalm 8. Wow! The hymn text "LORD, our LORD, Your Glorious Name", is from the Psalter 1912. It is in 25 hymnals set to various tunes. (But it hasn't been put in any Baptist hymnals.)

That was just some bonus info for you today. :-)

What jumped out at me today was verse 2

2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. NIV

2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. New Living Translation

In my favorite setting of Psalm 8, "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name," this part of Psalm 8 is worded like this, "Little children praise You perfectly, and so would we, and so would we. Alleluia!"

When my grandson, Malachi, who is 4, got glasses and put them on for the first time he said, "Wow! I can see! I can even see God!" I don't doubt that he did.

I was going to tell you about the time Malachi said he talked to Elijah, but when I called his mom to ask about it - I couldn't quite remember the whole story - it ended up that there is a boy in his mother's day out class named Elijah. From other things he has said his whole life I just figured he had talked to THE Elijah.

I've noticed that children do praise the Lord, maybe not perfectly, but often better than youth and adults do. Their faith seems to be more pure and innocent. They haven't become as skeptical, perhaps. Or maybe they haven't had to deal with the terrible or disturbing or unholy things of life like we have. Maybe because of that they can see God more clearly or trust Him more fully. 

Bottom line: 

Whether or not they praise God perfectly or actually see and talk to Him in person, when children praise God and tell how wonderful He is they silence God's enemies. They establish a stronghold against God' enemies.

SO...

• Talk to your children about God as part of your normal conversations. Day to day point out the things God is doing. Don't just talk about God on Sundays.
• Make sure your children are in church. Set a good example for them in your attitude about church attendance. Come to worship and Bible study with joy.
• Bring your children to Children's Choir on Sundays at 2:00 (at Hilldale. Check your own church for choir times.)

Bonus material.

My favorite setting of Psalm 8.

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!)