Tag: psalms

Psalm 10

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
One cannot go through life without having to deal with evil in the form of two-faced people.  It’s just part of the human condition to experience it.  The O’Jays sang about such persons in their 1972 song, Backstabbers: 
(What they do!)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place.
 
            The psalmist knew such people all too well.  “They curse and tell lies, and all they think about is how to be cruel or how to do wrong.”  Outwardly they feign friendship while inwardly they sneer and plot how to destroy.  But the reality is that God sees all of it, both inside and out.  And God will act.
 
            Meanwhile, until God dispenses his will on both the evil and the good, the righteous remain hopeful and confident that their cries are being heard and that divine protection will prevail.  “You listen to the longings of those who suffer.  You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help.”
 
            It was the Apostle Paul who said: “Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good” (Romans 12:21).  The way to face down the presence of hard-hearted people is to:  1) cry out to God in prayer; and, 2) not be passive or take revenge, but actively work for good.  If we can encourage one another with these two things, it will go a long way toward spreading God’s kingdom in our communities.
 

 

            Just God, you defend those who are vulnerable and in need.  You will act so that no one on earth can terrify others again.  Shoo the bullying ways of Satan away in order for your benevolent kingdom to take root in the church and the world for the sake of Jesus.  Amen.

Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            Of the 250,000 Protestant churches in America, 200,000 are either stagnant (with no growth) or declining. That is 80% of the churches in America and maybe the one you attend, if you attend at all.  4,000 churches close their doors every single year.  There is less than half of the number of churches today than there were only 100 years ago.  3,500 people leave the church every single day.
 
            These sobering statistics make today’s psalm even more prescient.  Although the psalm speaks of Israel, likened as a vine which is withering away, it sounds like the cry of many American churches.  They scratch their heads wondering why in the world they are dying.  They are perplexed by the precipitous decline of their congregations.  Like Israel, they keep looking to outside forces as the reason for their loss of members instead of looking inward to their own lack of fruitfulness. 
 
            At least the psalmist cries out to God:  “God All Powerful, please do something!… make us strong again!  Smile on us and save us!”  Far too many churches do not even think to cry out to God, but have bought into the magical thinking that some tweak of the worship service, some program alteration, or maybe a new pastor will solve their woes.  But God is not looking for superficial changes; He is looking for wholehearted repentance.  Until we begin with our own hearts within our own congregations, our lamentations will fall flat before the Lord.  Revival starts with you and me.
 

 

            Mighty God, you planted thousands of churches throughout this country and the world in order to bear fruit and produce abundance.  Yet, we are withering before you because of our own stubbornness and blindness.  Search my heart and know me, O Lord; see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting for the sake of Jesus, my Savior.  Amen.

Psalm 11

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            It is part of the human condition that we will eventually take the brunt of someone’s poison darts.  If you have ever received a nasty e-mail based on half-truths and accusations; stood dumbfounded as someone hurled misinformation and criticism at you; and/or experienced the victimization that comes from slanderous and gossiping tongues, then the psalmist knows exactly how you feel.  “Those evil people have put their arrows on their bows, and they are standing in the shadows, aiming at good people.”
 
            To be the target of evil speech or actions is, at the least, unsettling, and, at worst, can bring years of struggle, depression, and inability to serve.  But there is another who sees it all, and he will address the wrong.  “The LORD is sitting in his sacred temple on his throne in heaven.  He knows everything we do because he sees us all….  The LORD always does right and wants justice done.  Everyone who does right will see his face.”  God will act because he “despises those who are cruel and love violence.”
 
            In other words, it is not a good idea to get on God’s bad side.  The way to flare God’s anger is by possessing an acerbic tongue; relishing in the verbal violence; and, having no remorse about any of it.  Because God loves people, he hates wickedness.  The righteous are to take solace in the truth that God really does see the harm done, and is in a position to do something about it.  Like the psalmist, we run to the Lord and trust in his ultimate judgment.
 

 

            God of justice, look at the state of your servant and act on my behalf.  Do not let evil prevail, but bury the ungodly so that they can no longer do any harm.  In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.

Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            “From east to west, the powerful LORD God has been calling together everyone on earth.”  This is not a minor theme in the whole of Scripture; it is a major aim of God to reach all kinds of people throughout the entire world.  A healthy way of looking at the entirety of the Bible is that it is an unfolding drama of redemption in which God does whatever it takes to restore a fundamentally broken world.
 
            For the psalmist, this meant that Israel, although a distinctive people with a divine purpose, did not have the corner on God’s redeeming ways.  It has always been God’s will to bring Gentiles as well as Jews to himself.  In other words, no one group of people has the corner on God.
 
            If Christians want to participate with God in his redemption of the earth, the psalmist says, “The sacrifice that honors me is a thankful heart.  Obey me, and I, your God, will show my power to save.”  Gratitude and obedience are the sacred paths that open up God to others.  These two attitudinal activities please the Lord and provide a means for Him to call others to faith.  May it be so in your life and mine.
 

 

            Saving God, you have been powerfully calling people from emptiness to real life since the fall of humanity.  Thank you for work of deliverance.  I give myself to you for your continued pursuit of others, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.