I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
We humans should not think that we can build a building that can house or contain the God who made the universe. God does not desire that we follow the forms of righteousness. He desires that we have a humble and contrite heart, that we recognize our failures and be sorry for the pains they have caused. God is going to bring judgement on those who follow the forms of righteousness but actually do their own will rather than God’s. He will send messengers (apostles, if you will) to every people of every nation so that everyone will hear of His glory, power and mercy.
Paul tells us that if anybody had reason for confidence in righteousness through their actions it would be him. But, he tells us, he has learned that all of the things he once counted as to his gain he now considers worthless. What is of value is knowing Jesus Christ. We should discard all other hopes of righteousness and strive to become one with Christ, counting on our faith in Him to give us righteousness. We should strive to know the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead to the extent of willingly embracing His suffering. We should forget what is behind and press on, striving to become more like Christ every day. We must not allow our appetites for material things to become our gods, but ever strive to serve the Lord.
Today the psalmist cries out to God to know how long He will allow people to insult Him. He expresses confidence that in His own time God will defend His cause and punish those who insult Him. Those who have defiled Jerusalem and made it a place of worshiping false gods will pay a price in the fullness of God’s time.
When the godly are struck down, they get up and continue on, even when they are struck repeatedly. The wicked on the other hand only need to suffer one disaster to be defeated.