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

When David heard that Doeg the Edomite had reported to King Saul about the help which he received from the priest Ahimelek, and what Saul did in response he wrote the first of today’s psalms.  David wrote of how God will bring do evil because they trust in their own strength and wealth rather than fearing and trusting in God.  David contrasts himself with Doeg by saying that he trusted in God and praised God for what He had done for him.  Which leads me to a phrase in Psalm 56 that is the center of what I wish to write today:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

The psalmist precedes that by saying that he calls out for God to be merciful when he is pursued by his enemies.  He then follows that quote by saying that they twist his words and conspire to ruin him.  But the psalmist does not fear them because he trusts in God.  Even while still facing danger from his enemies, he praises God because he puts His trust in Him.  The psalmist goes on to write that his strength comes from God and he will praise Him because he trusts that God will rescue him.  We too need not fear those who make themselves our enemies if we put our trust in God.

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

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

First, I want to note that Psalms 53 is almost exactly the same as Psalms 14.  A translators’ note from Psalm 14 notes that the word rendered as “fool” throughout the Psalms has the implication of being morally deficient, which makes the psalm fit into this group of psalms very well.  The first of today’s psalms speaks of one who boasts of the evil deeds they have performed, contrasting them with those who trust and praise God.  The psalmist goes on praising God throughout these psalms.  He refuses to lose his faith in God, even when close friends betray him and his enemies twist his words.  If faithfully serve God, He will cause the evil our enemies intend for us to rebound upon them while He protects us.  The wicked, the morally deficient, the foolish believe that there is no God and therefore believe they can safely belittle and attack the righteous.  The wise faithfully serve God, and rely on Him for protection from those who hate them because of that.

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

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

The psalmist begins Psalm 53 by writing that the fool says in his heart that there is no God.  We often read the rest of that psalm from that perspective, but I believe the second line tells us better whom the psalmist is writing about.  There he writes, “They are corrupt, and their ways are vile.”  He goes on to tell us that no one does good and that everyone has turned away.  In a later psalm in today’s passage he writes that the wicked go astray from birth, that no sooner are they born than they begin spreading lies.  There is no room in this for us to set ourselves apart.  If no one does good, than neither do we.  However, this brings me back to that first line.  However, if we acknowledge that God exists, then we may cry out to Him in our distress and He will hear us.  Then He will rescue us from our sin and teach us/cause us to do good.  I will praise God, not because I am good, but because He is good.  I will put my trust in Him and He will transform me.  And even here the psalmist gives us great advice.  When we fear, let us put our trust in Him.  Then, if we put our trust in Him, we need, and He will make it so that we do not, fear anyone.  If God Almighty will speak for us, and act as our protector, what can someone who is merely mortal do to us?  So, join me in praising God in front of everyone.  I will not hide that my trust, my faith, and my hope lies in God.  He has never let me down.

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

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

As I read today’s psalms I was going to write one thing about them, but when I re-read them to put my thoughts in order that did not quite fit.  So, I will just start writing about the things which seem the most important to me.  In Psalm 53 the psalmist tells us that those who say there is no God are fools.  We can easily dismiss this as applying to someone else, but the psalmist goes on to say that no one does good and that everyone has turned from God.  We must acknowledge our sin and turn back to Him each day.  Going back to Psalm 52 and reading on through these psalms we see that the psalmist warns against wallowing in evil.  Instead let us call on God to save us and transform us from our evil tendencies.  Then we can call on God when we face troubles and persecution.  If we seek to do His will He will rescue us from those troubles.  When fear begins to overwhelm us, let us put our trust in God.   If we truly trust God, we need fear nothing and no one else.

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 52-59.

The psalmist warns us that the real danger for any group, city, or nation is not outside invaders.  No, the real danger is wickedness within.  Sooner or later, every group, city, or nation will have to face the wickedness that it has allowed to infiltrate it.  Sometimes those infiltrators were once dedicated to the good and true.  Our problems and terrors do not come from outsiders, they come from our own failure to faithfully obey God.  If we trust in God, we need not be afraid.  Yes, when we stand up and declare our trust in Him, we will be hounded and slandered by those who refuse to accept His will.  Nevertheless, we must remember that no mortal can bring harm to us that God does not allow.  Our enemies may set a trap for us, but if we keep our eyes on God and do as He directs, it is they who will fall into the traps.  The psalmist calls on God not to end the lives of those who attack him for evil reasons.  Instead he calls on God to let them live defeated so that they and others can learn from God’s judgement upon them.