Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 10-17.

Today’s psalms speak about a couple of contrasting ideas.  First the psalmist writes of how the wicked have no fear of God, believing that He will not hold them accountable.  However, the psalmist reminds us that while it may at times seem that the wicked prosper, God will take action to protect the oppressed and punish the wicked.  The psalmist goes on to remind us that while the wicked strike at the foundations of justice and law and order so that it seems like the righteous can do nothing, the Lord will act and the righteous need only put their trust in Him.  I want to stress that when the foundations of law and order and justice are being destroyed the righteous only need to put their trust in God, but they do need to put their trust in God.  The solution in that situation is to turn to God, not to try to turn to some other “fix” for the problem.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 10-17.

The psalmist who wrote today’s psalms might have been writing about our society now.  The wicked hunt down the weak and devise plans to catch up those who cannot fight back.  They act as if no one will ever hold them to account, and it seems like perhaps they are correct.  Everywhere we look around us we see those who are not faithful or loyal; we see those whose deeds are vile and corrupt.   They declare that there is no God.  This leads some to declare that those who wish to obey the Lord need to flee to remote places in order to live because the wicked are destroying the foundations of law.  But the psalmist tells us that we should take refuge in the Lord, those who believe that there is no God are fools.  God will rise up and put the wicked to flight, then those who put their trust in Him will be able to march forth with Him.  God loves righteousness and justice, those who put their trust in Him do not need to flee from the assaults of the wicked.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 10-17.

Today we have once more several different Psalms which are not really thematically connected, and yet there is a thread running through them.  In them all the psalmist writes of a time when wickedness abounds, when no one seems to be seeking the Lord.  The wicked do not believe that they will ever be called to account.  Everyone looks around and sees evil around them, but none (or, at least, very few) examine themselves to see if they act in a manner pleasing to God.  Everyone, it seems, lies to their neighbors, flattering others so as to deceive them.  But God sees the trouble of the afflicted and oppressed and will act.  Let us take refuge in God, then we will not need to flee to the mountains, or to the wilderness, to escape the evil in this world.  Yes, the attempt is being made to destroy the foundations of righteousness, but despite their best efforts God still sits on His throne.  So, let us call on God in prayer that He might call people back to Him.  The answer to the problems we face today is not changing the government, is not changing the institutions around us.  We will not solve the problems we see by getting new laws passed, or even by changing Church leadership.  The answer lies in turning our hearts to God and seeking to do His will, on calling those around us to seek Him.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 10-17.

There are several different ways to read today’s selection of Psalms, but for me, Psalms 10 sets the theme, a theme which I find appropriate for these times.  The wicked seem to be in the ascendancy and God seems to be ignoring their misdeeds.  Our society seems to be intent on destroying its foundations.  The psalmist reminds us that God is not ignoring the actions of the wicked, that He will defend the fatherless and the oppressed.  Further, if God is our foundation our society’s destruction of its foundations will not effect us.  Times may be bad for us, we may experience persecution, but if we put our faith in God and call out to Him in our distress, He will come to our aid.  Let us not lose heart, but patiently wait for God to show His love and power.  We will not be disappointed.

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

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 10-17.

In today’s psalms I see a reflection of our society today.  Again and again we see those who believe that there is no God and that they will never be held accountable.  Among those who recognize the wickedness of our day are those who tell us to flee to mountains or to the wilderness because the foundation of law and order has been destroyed.  The wicked have attempted, and are continuing the effort, to destroy the foundation of law and order, but I trust God and know the He is the actual foundation of law and order.  Despite the fact that many reject Him, He will continue to rule.  The wicked attempt to make the godly and faithful disappear from the earth, but God will rise up and protect them.

The psalmist highlights the terrible situation in which we find ourselves, but reminds us of how we can act to know that God will protect us.  In particular, Psalms 15 gives us the actions we can take to serve God in these difficult times.

1. Do what is right
2. Speak the truth sincerely
3. Despise flagrant sinners
4. Honor those who faithfully follow the Lord
5. Keep our promises even when it hurts
6. Refuse to
   1. gossip
   2. harm our neighbors
   3. speak evil of our friends

The second item contains an important qualifier.  It is not enough that what we say is the truth, we must be sincere in speaking it.  The third and fourth items are connected.  We must make it clear that we admire those who follow God’s Law and that we do not approve of those who blatantly violate it.