I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 90-97.

    The bulk of today’s psalms are psalms of praise, even the two which do not focus on praise remind us to praise. The first psalm reminds us that our time on this earth is but the blink of an eye to God. It is important for us to realize this for two reasons. What seems like God taking a long time to act is merely a few moments. The situation as it currently is took a long time to get that way, it will take a long time for it to get fixed. However, we need to realize we only have a few short years to serve God on this earth. We need to learn not to waste the time we have, let us use it to bring glory to God.

    If we have God as our shelter and protector we need fear nothing, because all things work together for good for those who love Him. Nothing happens in this world which does not fit into God’s plan and the joy of playing our part is greater than any pain or suffering. Let us sing praises to God morning, noon, and night. The psalmist reminds us that only fools and simpletons are fooled by the fact that the wicked sprout like weeds. In due time the wicked will be completely destroyed, but the godly will flourish. The whole earth will rejoice in God’s triumph over evil. Let us be in the forefront of that celebration. Let us celebrate God’s victory while the wicked still think that they are thriving.

    Speaking of fools, the wicked think that they can get away with robbing and killing the powerless, the widow, the fatherless, and the foreigner. But God is a God of vengeance. He will avenge those who have been wrongfully harmed. Only fools think that God does not know what they are doing. I will say with the psalmist, “Unless the Lord had helped me…” The Lord is my rock and my fortress.
    I am not quite sure how this fits in here, but I am feeling convicted to write it. Writing this blog has been making me feel guilty because I have not used my gifts to do more for the Lord. Yet over the last few days I have had incidents with non-Christian friends whose actions have tempted me to end my interaction with them. In those cases, the friends had done with me the sorts of things which had in the past caused others to end interaction with them. The inspiration for breaking off contact was the thought, “Is what I am getting out of my interaction with this person worth the effort?” However, the Holy Spirit made me realize that my interactions with them are not, and should not be, about what I get out of it. They are about showing Christ’s love to those I meet. I have rarely spoken to any of these friends about my faith, but I know that I have made it clear to them that it is the center of my life.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 78-81.

    Each generation must teach the next the wonderful things which God has done and the commands which He has given. Otherwise, the next generation will commit the sins of the previous one. Even if we do teach the next generation, they may repeat the sins. Look at the history of Israel as told in Exodus; God performed great signs for them, yet each time a new challenge arose the people did not believe that God could meet this new challenge. Will we put our trust in God, or will we follow their example and turn from Him when new problems appear?

    If we cry out to God and plead with Him to bring us back to Him, He will do so. He will turn us to him as a vine turns towards the sun. He will teach those who mocked Him because of our unfaithfulness the folly of their ways. AS I read these psalms they remind me of the paradox of our relationship with God: we can only turn to Him if His Spirit takes control of us and turns us to Him, but if we reject Him, He will leave us to our folly. Turning from temptation and sin is a task too heavy for us, God will lift it from our back if we allow Him to do so.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 82-89.

    Two of today’s psalms speak to the controversy over immigration from impoverished countries to the developed world, Psalm 82 and 87. I am not going to take a position on how these psalms should be applied to this issue, or even if they should be. Psalm 82 calls on rulers to give justice to the poor and uphold the rights of the oppressed. This is sometimes used to call on the governments of developed countries to be more open to immigrants who have not gone through the established channels. There is some merit to that position. However, what I have never seen is anyone using this psalm to call out the governments of the countries from which these immigrants are fleeing. While those of us in the developed world should pay heed to this psalm’s call to rescue the poor and helpless, its condemnation is directed at those who have been oppressing them.
    Then in Psalm 87 the psalmist says that “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Certainly, he is talking here about becoming citizens of the Kingdom of God. However, on the immigration issue there are those who want to apply it to our present world. They desire to make everyone citizens of one nation which encompasses the whole world. This whole discussion makes me think that the problem, of which mass migration is but a part, will not be solved until the Christ’s return. This psalm does tell us that citizenship in God’s Kingdom is not determined by geography. People from every land and ethnicity are welcome in God’s Kingdom. God will not only give them citizenship, He will adopt them into the royal family.
**Note:Something about the above two paragraphs bothered me, but I could not put my finger on it. A few minutes ago it struck me: this whole discussion about proper enforcement of immigration laws in developed countries is from the perspective of being involved in the government, even if only in so small a way as voting, something I do not believe we as Christians should do.

    In many ways I see Psalm 84 as being a response to Psalm 83. The peoples of this world will unite together in order to oppose God and attack His people, thinking that by doing so they can gain greater riches and wealth. They will fail in their endeavor. But Psalm 84 tells us that even if they could gain what they are seeking, what they are rejecting is better than what they seek. Despite what the people of this world think, seeking God is more satisfying and a source of greater pleasure than anything else we can do. Despite our fears and insecurities, doing God’s will brings us greater, by far, fulfillment and joy than we can imagine.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 72-77.

    The first of today’s psalms is a prayer for good government. A good government implements God’s justice. It defends the poor and rescues the children of the needy. The godly will flourish under such a government and its power will extend well beyond its borders. All the nations of the earth are blessed when even one country has a good government by God’s standards.

    We are often tempted to envy the proud and wicked because life seems so easy for them. It is hard to understand why they prosper in a world where God is in control. But if we truly fellowship with God we will understand that the wicked will face His judgement. The joy of knowing that God cares for us and walks with us far outweighs any pleasure the wicked might obtain from this world. In God’s time they will learn the emptiness of the pleasures they seek. We must not become bitter because the wicked appear to be thriving.

    Psalms 74 and 75 remind me of my thoughts and concerns about the fact that we do not see miraculous signs around us in the way my reading of the New Testament suggests that we should. These two psalms are very heartening for me in light of that. They suggest that the absence of miraculous signs is a part of God’s plan, rather than a sign of our lack of faithfulness. Those who set themselves up against God feel empowered by God’s lack of signs, but God has warned them. In due time, in God’s time, He will rise up and bring judgment against them. He will not overlook their insults indefinitely. While those who continued to praise Him, even when it seemed He would no longer act, will be rewarded.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 68-71.

    The first of today’s psalms calls on God to strike down His enemies, those who choose to defy His will. The psalmist reminds us of the great things God has done in the past against those who stood against Him. The psalmist gives us an idea of what makes someone an enemy of God by telling us that God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. When God speaks the word, the armies of His enemies flee and those with no power are able to gather plunder from what they leave behind.

    The other three psalms in today’s passage are cries for God’s aid and salvation. There are a couple of things which the psalmist writes that I want to highlight. I am not sure how connected they are. He confesses that he is both foolish and sinful, then prays to God that he not bring shame to those who trust in God. Every time I read this passage two thoughts go through my mind. The first is that I also pray that my sins do not bring shame to those who trust in God. But the second is just as important. I pray that God keeps me from actions which might bring shame to those who trust in Him. I know that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can accomplish this, for I too am foolish.

    Later the psalmist makes a claim which I hope one day I also will be able to make. He declares that his life has been an example to many. He even tell us how we can live our lives the same way. The psalmist declared that his life was an example because God had always been his strength and protection. As a result, he cannot stop praising God. From his earliest childhood, God taught him, which led him to constantly tell others about the wonderful things which God had done. Even when life had turned hard for him and he was once again calling for God’s aid, he would not stop praising God and proclaiming His saving power. This passage should certainly serve as an example for us; one which we should strive to bring to life for those who see our lives.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 60-67.

    The psalmist calls on us not to rely on human help in place of God’s. When enemies assault us, we need to cry out to God and wait patiently for His response. Waiting patiently does not mean that we do not continue to pray and cry out to Him for aid. Waiting patiently means continuing to trust that God will come to our aid, even when our troubles persist. God will be our rock and our fortress if we put out trust in Him. I want to note that throughout these psalms the psalmist leaves us hints of things taught elsewhere: while we are waiting for God to act to save us from our enemies and our troubles, He will give us directions which we need to follow in order to come to the safe place that He has for us.

    There are two elements to following God’s directions to a safe place. The first is what we should not do; we should not make our living by extortion or by stealing, and, if we acquire wealth, we should not rely on it. The second is what we should do; we should praise God and let others know about the powerful, wonderful things He has done. The pslamist’s list of what we should do is far from comprehensive. Elsewhere he tells us that we should care for the poor and the sick, come to the defense of the oppressed, and generally do that which is seen as good. Doing good will not save us from our troubles, but it will position us where God intends for His salvation to reach us.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 52-59.

    When I write these commentaries on the passage I have read for the day, I try to find a theme. That is often difficult in the Psalms because each psalm is, more or less, an independent work of literature. The theme of today’s psalms is seeking God’s protection. The first two psalms might appear to not be about that, but indirectly they are. The first psalm addresses someone who is confident that his prowess in battle, political connections, and wealth will carry the day. The psalmist assures us that God will have the final say and that this individual will become a byword on relying on yourself rather than God. The second psalm continues that theme. Reminding us that it is foolish to believe that there is no God. We all sin, but the wicked think that they can get away with oppressing others, using lies and evil acts to satisfy their desires at the expense of others. They foolishly believe that God will not hold them to account (because they believe there is no God). The psalmist also tells us that, in part, the wicked believe that there is no God because they desire to do wicked things.

    The rest of today’s psalms, except for Psalm 58 (which I will get to presently), call on us to take the opposite approach. When trouble surrounds us, let us call on God for rescue. Let us call on God to protect us and avenge us against those who wrong us. We need not, even should not, count on our strength and ability to deal with trouble or those who attack us. Instead, we should strive to do good for everyone we encounter and count on God to protect us from their unwarranted attacks. People may twist our words and misconstrue our deeds, but God will see if those accusations are justified and protect us from those which are not. If we call out to God when trouble overwhelms us, He will hear our cry and come to our rescue.
    Which brings me to Psalm 58. Here the psalmist warns and condemns those rulers who do not implement justice. As a warning he tells them that God will implement justice if they do not. And, if God implements justice, those rulers who failed to do so will suffer. God will break their power and sweep them away.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 45-51.

    I know what I want to write about today, but I am struggling with how to introduce the topics (see, what I did there. I couldn’t figure out an introduction, so I used that as the introduction). The psalmist tells us that if we place our trust in God we do not need to fear trouble. In Psalm 46, he sets aside the fear of natural disasters. In Psalm 49, he sets aside the fear of human beings. When all is going crazy around us, we just need to be calm and recognize that God has power over all of it. Panic and fright will not aid us in any way, but calmly waiting for God to tell us what to do will. Others may trust in their wealth and/or political power, but no matter how rich they are, no matter how powerful they are, they cannot buy their way out of dying. Only God can redeem us from death.

    God has no need of our wealth or possessions. All of the earth is His. What He desires from us is thankfulness. The psalmist warns us to not think that talking about God and His commands will do us any good if we spend our time commending those who violate them. Slandering our brother (and I want to point out that I think Jesus’ example about who our neighbor is applies to who our brother is as well) is an indication that we are not living with the thankfulness which God desires. Ultimately, we have all sinned. Let us throw ourselves on God’s mercy and pray for Him to wipe us clean from those sins. Then strive to sin no more. As I read these psalms and write this blog, I am reminded once more how much less skilled I am at word crafting than the psalmist. Please read these psalms, my ability to express the thoughts they evoke is inadequate to the task.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 38-44.

    The first of today’s psalms, Psalm 38, is a counterpoint to the Book of Job; sometimes we suffer because of our sins. Of course, today’s set of psalms ends with one which supports the point of the Book of Job, that sometimes our suffering is from no fault of our own. In either case, the psalmist tells us confess our sins, for all of us have sinned whether that causes us suffering or not, and wait patiently for God. If we put our confidence in Him, He will give us joy. God does not desire offerings; He wants us to do His will. And in Psalm 41, he tells us what is God’s will: that we be kind to the poor. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the story of the sheep and the goats which gives us a little more detail about God’s will for us.

    I am not going to write about all of the things which these psalms cover, but I really want to talk about Psalm 43. The psalmist is feeling sad and unhappy, put upon. He remembers being happy, but feels like that has all gone away. I think that we have all felt that way at some point in our lives. He identifies what was different about the good times from “now”. During the good times he walked among a crowd of people praising and worshiping God. Now God feels distant. Then comes the insight. It was not God who changed, it was himself. He will once again put his trust in God, worshiping and praising Him. The psalmist is expressing the same thought as in Psalm 34 where he said, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Sometimes we need to move forward in faith in order to experience the joy that comes from obeying God. Singing joyful songs praising God will often bring us joy, even if we were sad when we began to sing.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 32-37.

    The psalmist begins today’s psalms by reminding us of the joy which comes from God forgiving our sins. In fact that sets the stage for a theme which runs through today’s psalms: how to obtain joy. One of the sources of depression and unhappiness is unconfessed sin. I want to be careful here. I am not saying that everyone who suffers from depression has sins to which they are not admitting. However, if you are suffering from depression, examine your life for any unconfessed sins and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any such sins. I also want to add that even if your depression is caused by unconfessed sins, that does not make you any worse than I. I am certainly no better than you. Perhaps I am even worse. Perhaps the fact that I do not suffer from depression is an indication that I am not as bothered by my sin as you are by yours. I am quite confident that I am no less of a sinner than you. I want to repeat that I am not saying that everyone suffering from depression has sin which they are not admitting. I do not even know that most people suffering from depression have such sins. I am just saying that some people suffer from depression because of unconfessed sin.

    I did not intend to spend that much time on that because the main focus of these psalms is joy. God offers to guide us along the best pathway for our lives. That will not be the same for each of us. It will not even be the same for any two of us. The greatest joy will come to us if we readily and willingly follow the guidance which God gives us. Part of that path is recognizing God’s greatness and praising Him for it. There is joy in praising the Lord and in boasting about His power. In the middle of explaining how God will save us from our troubles if we call out to Him the psalmist has one of those lines which, for me, sum up making the case for believing in God.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

I can, and will, make every argument I can think of for why you should put your faith in God. But until you actually do so you will not understand just how wonderful faith in God is. Until you put your faith in Him, you will not truly know that He is. When I was younger I struggled looking for evidence of God’s existence. I wanted proof that He existed. Finally one day I was contemplating my life and its utter meaninglessness. The thought went through my head, “If there is no God, I may as well kill myself.” My very next thought was, “I cannot do that to my mother.” At that moment, I realized that I could not live with the idea that the God of the Bible was not real. So, I decided from that moment on to live my life as if He was indeed real, even though I had no proof. By the end of the following week, I had the proof I had been so desperately seeking. I cannot prove to you that God exists, that can only happen when you put your faith in Him, but it has been proven to me that He exists.

    I was going to stop with the last, but as is usually the case, I skimmed over the passage for today one last time and found more advice for long-term joy and happiness in our lives. There is no reason to be envious of the wicked. They may have things we do not, and they may experience pleasures we do not, but in the end they will face suffering we would not wish on our worst enemies. There is more pleasure and joy to be found in doing the good which God calls us to do than in any of the things which the wicked may obtain. Commit our actions to God and leave our anger at others go. If your anger is justified, those it is directed against will face God’s judgment soon enough. If it is not, you may allow it to cause you to do wrong to another. Let you anger go and do the good to which God directs you.