Category: evil

Tunnel to the Light: Psalm 35:26-28– the Conclusion

26 “May those who rejoice at my troubles
    be humiliated and disgraced.
May those who triumph over me
    be covered with shame and dishonor.
27 But give great joy to those who came to my defense.
    Let them continually say, “Great is the Lord,
    who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”
28 Then I will proclaim your justice,
    and I will praise you all day long.”

Psalm 35:26-28, NLT

Finally, we reach the end of Psalm 35. Reviewing is recommended, but certainly not mandated. (You will get no ‘brownie points’ however. But you’ll be missing so much.)

These last three verses seem to stamp in themes that have already been worked over pretty well. I suppose they are a solid summary of all that we examined thoroughly before.

  • David is in deep ‘doo-doo,’ way far beyond anything he can handle. He is completely overwhelmed.
  • He is hated so much, by so many, that people just want to see him gone. (David is like the ‘Richard Nixon’ of his day.)
  • David pleads for a ‘reversal’ of grace and cursing. Those who usurp David’s authority must be overturned and defeated. Grace must become fully orthodox and ‘the only way to go.’
  • There is a true fellowship of the joyful, as they reach out in David’s support and well-being.
  • There is a presumption of intention that David intends to ‘live for God.’ All that he has learned, propels him into a special grace.

Commentary

V. 26, ““May those who rejoice at my troubles
be humiliated and disgraced.
May those who triumph over me
be covered with shame and dishonor.”

I suppose the intention here is that ‘the rejoicers’ get wrecked. Those who are so glad David is suffering would be now become “disgraced.” The reversal fully flips. The voices become nullified– zeroed out and come to a certain shame.

There is a tentative boldness in David’s ‘declaration,’ it is sure, but it will require some patience. The overthrow of evil will sometimes take incremental steps. But it is certain. It will happen.

V. 27, “But give great joy to those who came to my defense.
Let them continually say, “Great is the Lord,
who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

The issues of joy run down the lane of obedience. Defending those who are godly is the certain call of joy for it’s leadership. The steady mantra of those in the place of joy is aspirational. It aspires to fully exalt God, and also to acknowledge David’s need for peace. But the key word here maybe, is “delights.” Quite frankly, God delights to make this happen.

V. 28, “Then I will proclaim your justice,
and I will praise you all day long.”

There are obvious prerequisites to put this into ‘play.’ This verse pivots around this idea of ‘proclamation of justice.” And that dear one, is a hard truth for us to grasp. Will we do this– to make this announcement, we believe that there is a definite sense of what is right.

When we proclaim justice, it can only strengthen our praise and worship. (I suppose that scripturally they are a sort of siamese twins, they are “linked at the hip.” ‘Announcing justice’ and a ‘continual praise.’ go together, like ‘ham and eggs.’

*

ybic, Bryan

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The Corner of Grace and Mercy: Psalm 35:22-25

22 “O Lord, you know all about this.
    Do not stay silent.
    Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
23 Wake up! Rise to my defense!
    Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
24 Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice.
    Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
25 Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted!
    Now we will eat him alive!”

Psalm 35:22-25, NLT

Confusion and frustrations are cousins, that frolic and play in your yard. They fit very well with each accommodating the other.

David  is smack dab in the middle of these two. He is incredibly frustrated, and has become powerfully vulnerable. Each verse mitigates a certain disaster. “Maybe it is true, the light at the end-of-the tunnel may be an approaching train.”

David teaches us that life isn’t always easy. Quite frequently we are confused and can only cry out to God– one that sounds more like a groan than coherent words.

Commentary

V. 22, “O Lord, you know all about this.
    Do not stay silent.
    Do not abandon me now, O Lord.”

The Father is never caught off guard by an ignorance of our present moment. What He knows David knows. And God’s silence may suggest that David won’t be delivered. After all, there has been a whole lot of sin and unfaithfulness. These sins have only brought him confusion and despair.

“Do not abandon me now, O Lord.” Abandonment only seems logical after all. To have God “give up” on you is not an unreasonable issue. For Him to be faithful in spite of my continued sin and failure is actually the theological surprise. He has chosen not to relinquish us to the dark.

V.23, “Wake up! Rise to my defense!
    Take up my case, my God and my Lord.”

Imagine you have been arrested for a serious crime. You step into the courtroom and discover to your surprise, that your Father is your Judge. Your  attorney is Jesus, and He has fully paid your felonious crime.

It strikes me as a bit bold to tell God to “Wake up!” But there is an audacity in the life of a believer that we sometimes miss out on.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4:16, NLT

V. 24, “ Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice.
    Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.”

“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.”

Martin Luther

An old preacher once told me, that I really shouldn’t demand justice. But instead I should insist on mercy. The justice was poured on Jesus, and He has given forgiveness through His sacrifice.

V. 25, “Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted!
    Now we will eat him alive!”

From this point, this phrase in colloquial English would mean to “chew him up and spit him out.” It is an arrogant thing to say, and it is anchored in lot of pride. They are so sure of themselves, they feel pretty cocky.

ybic, Bryan

 

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Loving the Unlovely: Psalm 35:14-16

14 “I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in sorrow, as one who bewails his mother.

15 But in my stumbling and limping they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; the smiters (slanderers and revilers) gathered against me, and I knew them not; they ceased not to slander and revile me.

16 Like profane mockers at feasts [making sport for the price of a cake] they gnashed at me with their teeth.”

Psalm 35:14-16, Amplified

For today’s reading, I march out the Amplified Version (AMP.) It has a pretty dynamic history, and fills a niche of a translation that reveals shades and nuances of the original languages. (It can seem a “bit wordy” though for everyday reading.) It was built off the work of the ASV (1901) and its first edition came out in 1965. Since then, it has had over 30 printings.

The AMP handles these three verses quite adroitly and delivers much to strengthen our understanding.

David is a deeply troubled man. It seems he treats his enemies like dear friends. And his friends are sometimes overlooked. His love ‘kicks-off’ his vulnerabilities. I will use the term “idealistic” (but not ‘spacy’ or crazy.) You could say that he loves too much, and he refuses to call his old friends as the enemies they have become.

A love like this is truly astounding. It is called “agape” love in the New Testament. It is a special word that means that it loves its enemies in spite of being mistreated, ignored or slandered. It is a “Jesus style” of love, that His followers must share.

Commentary 

V. 14, “I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in sorrow, as one who bewails his mother.”

I suppose it would be useful to read my previous post from PL, The Dark Pain of Slander: Psalm 35:11-13 

David describes his painful grief over his enemies illness. This isn’t what people normally do. But David isn’t normal– he is supernatural as he grieves deep down. David taps into a vein of understanding that Jesus would declare centuries later. From Matthew 5,

“God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.” (v.4)

“God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.” (v.5)

“God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.” (v.7)

V. 15, “But in my stumbling and limping they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; the smiters (slanderers and revilers) gathered against me, and I knew them not; they ceased not to slander and revile me.

David has now become a magnet for haters. They watch him stumble, and see him limp. They are drawn together to mock and slander. They have joy over seeing King David the Buffoon stumbling about.

Evil has its special way of organizing itself for evil purposes. Just as the Godly have special gifts and ministries, the evil ones have their specialties as well. Some will be liars, others will be murderers, adulterers, abusers and thieves. You could say that Satan has “gifted” them to do his work.

“These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. 9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.”

2 Timothy 3:8-9

Just as Paul had been gifted, he encountered others as gifted, but to do evil. This should make a young pastor or missionary aware and careful of these evil counterparts. But Paul tells Timothy that this charade will not last long.

ybic, Bryan

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The Dark Pain of Slander: Psalm 35:11-13

Norman Rockwell, “Gossip,” 1948

11 “Malicious witnesses testify against me.
    They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good.
    I am sick with despair.
13 Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them.
    I denied myself by fasting for them,
    but my prayers returned unanswered.”

Psalm 35:11-13, NLT

“Slander is worse than cannibalism,” St. Chyrosostom

It is so frustrating when you are misjudged. For the most part, we find ourselves on a discouraging treadmill to try to regain your reputation. It is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. Proverbs 18:19, NLT,

“An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.
    Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.”

We are mixed-up in all of this because of their personal rancor or hostility. They imagine offences where none exist. In Psalm 59:3, David declares his frustration,

“They have set an ambush for me.
    Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord,
    though I have not sinned or offended them.”

Commentary

V.11,“Malicious witnesses testify against me.
    They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.

David becomes a ‘lightning rod’ for all kinds of malicious slander and gossip. His claiming that he has done nothing to merit such hatefulness. It maybe David was taken to court over some of these things: the words “witness,” “testify,” “accuse,” “crimes.” These all are words used in a criminal court.

“Malicious” is such a unhappy word; it means to be spiteful, noxious, nasty and vicious. These are strong words, and each one adds another layer of hatefulness, which David can’t do a thing about.

V. 12, “They repay me evil for good.
    I am sick with despair.”

What a hard place to be. People that you have been good to in all your dealings to them, turn on you. In times of apostasy, this kind of meanness will become the expected normal. Jeremiah 9:3-6,

3 “My people bend their tongues like bows
    to shoot out lies.
They refuse to stand up for the truth.
    They only go from bad to worse.
They do not know me,”
    says the Lord.

4 “Beware of your neighbor!
    Don’t even trust your brother!
For brother takes advantage of brother,
    and friend slanders friend.
5 They all fool and defraud each other;
    no one tells the truth.
With practiced tongues they tell lies;
    they wear themselves out with all their sinning.
6 They pile lie upon lie
    and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,”
    says the Lord.’”

One more thought. David said he was sick with despair. Often emotionally ill people are not considered sick by our standards. But they should be. And they should be helped.

V. 13, “Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them.
    I denied myself by fasting for them,
    but my prayers returned unanswered.”

David reveals the character of the Lord Jesus. When vilified, he blessed. When hurt by his enemies, David loves them. The natural man would consider that they were getting what was coming to them.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

Matthew 5:43-44

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Romans 12:20

One more thought. The Last Days are described as the most challenging in the history of mankind. One of its marks will be unloving, uncaring and ungodly people. David is one who loved even when he was mocked. Jesus prayed for His murderers from the cross.

 “I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 3:17

ybic, Bryan

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The Pit and the Trap: Psalm 35:7-8

7 “I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
    I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
8 So let sudden ruin come upon them!
    Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
    Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.”

Psalm 35:7-8, NLT

Innocence is often like a magnet– it attracts both good, and bad. I can only believe that David’s enemies are profoundly frustrated. It seems as David would navigate every trap and snare set to catch him. It was more than a “knack” for survival. It was his faith in a God who protects, loves, and shields.

That faith is remarkable. Sometimes, I catch myself wondering how it can endure such wickedness. But God preserves each one of His. The baby Jesus faced a complexity of hidden snares. Each time God brought Him through. And the deliverance always came at the right time.

 ”After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)

Commentary

V. 7, “I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
    I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.”

Maybe I’m reading into this verse, but I really believe that David is incredulous by their actions. He is simply amazed at his persecutor’s hatred. The phrase that is most significant is “I did them no wrong, but they…” Some people use a mousetrap to kill their mice. David is no mouse, but they are setting traps to destroy him.

My first drive-in movie was in 1967. They were showing “Swiss Family Robinson” on the big screen.  It was about a family of colonists that find themselves on a deserted island. By the time they are well situated, fanatical pirates show up. They planned on this, and set-up a lot of “booby traps.” One of them involves a deeply dug pit, covered with branches. Oh, and to make things more interesting, at the bottom  of the pit, was a fierce tiger. (I loved this movie!)

Pits are being dug deep. Efficient traps are being set. And David is impeccable. He has not done a thing to attract such hostility and hatred.

V. 8, “So let sudden ruin come upon them!
    Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
    Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.”

Keep in mind, this is David’s plea and prayer to God. Perhaps the key word in this verse is “them.” David knows that God knows who are “them.” I’ve been in many sticky situations, and I didn’t know who my ‘enemies’ were. I had no idea what ambushes were being made. Years later, I can see them now. But at the time I never saw them coming.

David is praying for a wonderful reversal to happen. The very things that were intended to destroy him would destroy “them.” This really requires an act of God to make it happen.

ybic, Bryan

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New Songs, and Parasites: Psalm 144:9-11

Sing to Him

9 “I will sing a new song to you, O God!
    I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.
10 For you grant victory to kings!
    You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.
11 Save me!
    Rescue me from the power of my enemies.
Their mouths are full of lies;
    they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.”

Psalm 144:9-11, NLT

When something is ‘new’ it just seems better. When you drive a new car off the lot, the feeling you have can’t be compared to anything else. Several months ago, I bought a pair of red shoes. (I liked them so much I wanted to wear them to bed.) A new jacket, or snazzy shoes and life is just more enhanced somehow.

There are a lot of ‘new’ things in the Bible. New wine, new name, new covenant, new clothes, new king, new creation, new heavens, new earth, new life and there are many others. Suddenly having something that is fresh and new, can be a bit of a challenge. We are unfamiliar with this ‘new thing.’ (And we were just getting comfortable with the old!)

Commentary

V. 9,  ”I will sing a new song to you, O God!
    I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.”

David’s heart was a singing one. He sings when things are ‘good.’ He sings when things are ‘bad.’ I’m sure as a proficient musician he understood music– what it could do, its innate power to lift. I would also imagine that David was a walking musical library. He knew all the songs worth knowing; the chords and melodies used.

David wants to sing “a new song to you,  O God!” Nothing but a new song would do. I suppose old songs are fine and good, they often evoke something from our past experiences. I love to sing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” I draw from it, and my spirit and eyes are lifted up.

But there are times– special moments, when we venture into the new moment. That spot is dewy fresh and different, it has just come into being. It is also strange. (I think this is the place where a “new song” is at its best.)

V. 10, “ For you grant victory to kings!
    You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.”

There is nothing like a ‘near-death’ experience to swell our shrunken hearts with  gratitude. And David was given “victory” for a present. He unwraps it, and decides the moment is perfect to write that “new song” he’s been thinking about. He knows that God is fully responsible for this victory, and saving him from certain death.

V. 11, “ Save me!
    Rescue me from the power of my enemies.
Their mouths are full of lies;
    they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.”

David doesn’t just ‘get up and brush himself off.’ Rather, (almost in a parasitical way) he latches unto God and won’t let Him go. We can go and drain this verse of its deep feelings, but we would be poorer for it– perhaps missing its true meaning.

David discerns correctly the ‘spiritual landscape’ of this moment. He hangs on to the Lord. David understands the power that wants to destroy him. His biggest enemies don’t carry a sword but instead they use their tongues– their words, and speech to press an attack on David.

Sing the old songs, but consider singing a new song as well.

888

ybic, Bryan

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An Innate Sense of God Almighty: Psalm 4:6-8

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
     Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:6-8, ESV

Overall, I would suggest that quite a few people have an innate sense of God. They will posture and be dramatically opposed to Him, but this is mostly a magnificently constructed ‘smoke-screen.’ Take it deep down however, and they almost believe.

We desperately want God’s favor, but things don’t go beyond that. We know we need shelter, but not at the expense of our “freedom.” We have a vague understanding of His love, but we insist on our own autonomy.  It seems that we can never ‘relax’ but we are always being judged. This is not the environment for faith to grow.

Commentary

V. 6, “There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
     Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

The “many” is  certainly good news. But it seldom translates into something life changing. Seeking Him is never a hobby, or a possible move toward respectability. What we are dealing with is a superficial faith that is barren and infertile.

Men love the idea of God. And there is considerable effort to accommodate His presence  (but almost  never His call ‘to be holy.’) We desperately want to be good, but never really godly.  We take what we want, and avoid the rest.

V. 7  ”You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

Joy is really the outcome of a surrendered life. Joy must start from God, and it then flourishes in our hearts. David is making a comparison here.  He understands the excited joy over the exceptional harvest. It is indescribable, the thrill of having a super abundance, within the character of God.

Joy is a wonderful place, it is a very deep sense of happiness, mixed with obedience. We must understand, that God is really the only one who can bring us joy. He is the exclusive source and purveyor of joy. We must meet His terms if we are to experience it.

V.8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

We have considered joy, now we must consider peace. For me, coming to the point of having ‘peace with God’ was very powerful. After many years of warfare and conflict against God, I arrived at a place where peace was waiting. We signed the treaty, and peace now ruled.

When we ‘sleep’ we are quite vulnerable. We curl up in a ball, and we lose consciousness  and awareness. We become quite vulnerable. But we are assured that we will be safe and secure, even in this vulnerable and sensitive place. His definite peace will be a real and substantial guard for us, and over us.

***

ybic, Bryan

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Enemies Are Waiting: Psalm 27:11-12

“Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
    For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
    with every breath they threaten me with violence.”

Psalm 27:11-12, (NLT)

I think we might be cursed by the belief we are trying to work the Christian life. We think we must “roll up our sleeves,” and start achieving things by our own effort. We have bought into ‘a hard work’ initiative to bring holiness into our grasp. We believe our sweat can make us truly spiritual.

In these verses, we read of something quite a bit different.

Commentary

V. 11, “Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me.”

Teachableness is a rare species today. (It’s on the endangered list.) David is looking for instruction, wisdom and guidance. The plea is “teach me how to live.” It is a ‘gut-cry,’ a howl for holiness that God gives.

David has an awareness of a life lived right. And he wants that kind of life. And I suppose we feel the same way. To have a live that pleases God, and loves people. Something extraordinary.

In this verse there is a mention of dark enemies lying in wait for David. He knows this and cries to God for help. David realizes that he is simply not sufficient to handle this kind of evil without God’s help.

V. 12, “Do not let me fall into their hands.
    For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
    with every breath they threaten me with violence.”

Evil can take many forms. Here we see it with a human one. David’s cry is a prayer for divine help. Quite frequently I think, we feel that we should be handling these issues by ourselves. Strangely we think we will show our spiritual commitment by facing down our enemies, and somehow show off our authenticity as a believer.

David was a victim of false accusations. This can quickly tear us apart. We know that Satan is known as “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10.) This is a favorite way of his to destroy us. He shames us and tries to hamstring our hope, and quench our peace.

There is a deep reality of violence that David is concerned about. His enemies breathe it out. Their hatred of David is a part of their lives, it is committed and ingrained part of their character. And David knows this.

I think sometimes we don’t really realize just how deep we are in, completely “over our heads.” What David dealt with on a physical plane, we must face on a spiritual. Out-numbered, and out-gunned we are often ambushed. I encourage you to cry out for help (just like David did.) Satan is like “a roaring lion” who is ravenously hungry.

Let the Lord God defend you. “Salvation belongs to the Lord” (Psalms 3:8.)

ybic, Bryan

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One Thing, Baby! Psalm 27:3-4

3 “Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.”

Psalm 27:3-4, NLT

No fear— and with a buoyed confidence, David cheerfully describes the source of his well-being. He seems to be always in trouble, but just as long as he can see the Lord, things will be okay.

The house of the Lord is David’s quiet place. Not because it was an architectural wonder, but because of the One who lived there. God’s presence is far, far beyond this physical structure. When you or I worship and extol Him, we enter into the same “place” and presence that David yearned for.

Commentary

V. 3,  ”Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.”

It’s not that David can’t see the coming warfare, it’s just because he visualizes the Lord’s protective grace on his life. There can be no real fear because of the nearness of God. The Old Testament is chock full of those who trusted God. They put there faith in Him, and then the miracles came.

Attacking armies are always a concern. But never, ever a craven fear. For us, chapter 6 of Ephesians declares certain realities,

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

We are told in the next verse to “put on the armor of God.” And in the very next verse to,  “Stand your ground.” I suppose both are of equal importance. Both are to be done in order to defeat evil forces. A prayerful reading of Ephesians 6 should be helpful.

V. 4, “ The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.”

The approaching battle and the gathering armies are not really what concerns David. If he was a faithless man, they would. But he is not faithless. This verse unfolds into David’s real passion. It is a passion for God’s presence. It ignites David, and his heart and personality.

“One thing!” Not two things, not several things; but one. Sometimes it seems we have too much to think about. Matthew 6:33 tells us to:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

V. 4 is like the Sistene Chapel of the human heart. We were made for this. All of our issues should be smaller than our complete saturation with God. “It’s all about Jesus,” we sing.

But is Jesus enough for you? Or are there ‘rivals?’ Competing voices all talking at once, in a sort of a insane bedlam of thoughts, desires and misconceptions.

In Song of Solomon 1:15 we find this intriguing description, “Behold, you are fair, my love!  Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes.” The symbolism of “doves eyes” is a head-scratcher, what does it mean?

A dove’s eyes can only see one thing at once, and this is a special characteristic. It sees only the object of her gaze. I would suggest that we are the beloved, and part of our beauty are the ‘eyes of our heart’. We see nothing but the Lord. Also, a dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When we are fully brought under the Holy Spirit’s control our eyes will be set on Jesus.

***

“Beware of anything that competes with Jesus Christ. Remember this, that the biggest competitor of devotion to Him is service for Him.”

Oswald Chambers

ybic, Bryan

Being a Noble Person: Psalm 15:4-5

Being a noble

4″ in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
    and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.”

Psalm 15:4-5, English Standard Version (ESV)

We’re finishing up our look into Psalm 15. I encourage you to look at our last post, as we move through that to our conclusion.

A great deal has already been said. These remaining two verses continue the list of qualifications to enter the Temple, and into the manifest presence of God. In the age of grace, we often bitterly resent a list like this. We really want to emphasize the mercy and accessibility of God.

But it really is never a question of “law vs. grace.” First, “the Law is good.”  (Romans 7:12.) There is nothing in it that is wrong. Second, grace needs to be holy. We need to sift through this. To have a list like this is more a manifestation of a personal life under the control of the Holy Spirit. When He, for real fills me, I will do these things easily. His power enables me to keep the “entrance qualifications” of Psalm  15.

Commentary

V. 4, “ in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

This speaks of perspective. We know deep down that people are never to be despised. But “vileness” needs to be.  To be vile means “evil, gross, disgusting.” The definition mixes “perversion” with “noxious” and if you put all of this together it is “nauseating.” To understand being vile is to be feeling like ‘throwing up” spiritually.

When we understand how completely ‘wicked’ vileness is, we understand why it is to be “despised.” And yet, when we look at the word “honor” it is an 180 degree opposite of vile. Honor brings a nobleness to our faith in Christ. When we are noble, it reveals that we are reflecting the majesty and beauty of our Savior.

The last part of verse 4, “who swears to his own hurt and does not change;” is more of a “holy decisiveness” than anything else. On a rational sense it means we will always ‘stick to our guns,’ no matter what. But the spiritual sense it is more a dedication to all that is true. Once we choose the right way, we will never abandon it, even when things get very hard. And life can get very hard at times, for anyone who has decided to live by their faith.

V. 5, “who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”

Verse 5 really focuses on “finances.” For most of us today, this ‘issue’ can be pretty anemic. We can read it with a weird sense of quaint nostalgia, we feel pretty distant from “money lending” and “bribes.” Most of us, have never felt lead to do either.

But the principle stays true. The idea of taking advantage of someone financially will never be permissible. We just can’t do it. Our spirituality will affect our reality directly, or else it is plain foolishness. We need to emphasize the word “innocent.” This word often includes people who can easily be influenced, or affected in manipulative ways. Will we take advantage, or will we be a person of truth?

To be a person who can never be moved is a great place to be. The world system has an ‘ebb and flow.’ It fluctuates, twists and turns. Things are never solid and in place. Culture and society is always moving and we seldom feel secure. But ‘steadiness’ is a quality that engenders a certain security and confidence.

ybic, Bryan

You will find the first post of Psalm 15 at http://psalmslife.com/2012/06/21/how-serious-is-it-psalm-151-3/

The Word is Rebellion: Psalm 2:1-3

Michelangelo’s “David”

“Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

Psalm 2:1-3,  NLT

This particular Psalm is frequently overlooked. It doesn’t have the charisma of its other brothers— like Psalms 23, or Psalms 51. But even a cursory look should change our minds about this. Let us put weight on what our Father puts weight on. This is wisdom.

This one of King David’s creations. It has several facets that we should note:

  • It is a “messianic psalm.” It points directly to Jesus with two direct references, “You are my Son” and a case for the resurrection.
  • It is a “prophetic psalm.” Many look back into the history of Israel. But this looks forward into the future of the world. It reveals in a poetic form what we can expect to see.
  • It is a “beautiful psalm.” It is elegant and exceptional in its composition. When I read it I think of Michelangelo’s  statue of David, in Florence, Italy. For me it has the same beauty.

Commentary

V.1, “Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

There is a madness ingrained in the heart and minds of men. An anger that is always there, often just under the surface. Every so often it gets loose and nasty, ugly things happen. We have an aversion of God’s rule in our lives. I think of the story of the tower of Babel when I read this. Genesis 11 carries this story of an intelligent effort to escape God’s rule. But it is doomed to failure as the Lord’s sovereignty is never, ever questioned.

David has an ‘epiphany’ and asks why. “Why” is a good question to ask, as it deals with questions that most ignore. I love it when a young person starts asking “why?” This is a necessary step in the right direction. We need a church that will ask “why?” more often than it does.

V. 2, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.”

And again we see a “preparation and a plot.” There is an organizing of sorts going on around us. We also see rebels consulting with each other about how they can actively resist God on a systematic level. This is something quite native and innate residing within.

This is a significant rebellion ‘ratcheted up’ to a satanic level. Most of humanity is busy doing Satan’s will. Jesus once spoke this—

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:44, (also Eph. 2:2)

V. 3, “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

The earnest cry of so many is too be free. Many revolutions, coups, terrorism, and assassinations have occurred in order to wrench out an imagined liberty. But our history repeatedly shows that we only replace one system with another that is just as corrupt.

We like breaking things. Government, art, literature, etc: can be summed up concisely as “breaking” things— we like the cutting edge, the ‘freshness’ of new ideas, music, art and entertainment. But all it is, is a rebellion that only perpetuates confusion and dashed hopes.

God’s kingdom is the only one that will last for an eternity.

ybic, Bryan

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You Are Being Mocked: 1 Samuel 17

 

From 1 Samuel 17

Young David stood and looked at Goliath ‘face-to-face.’  Physically there was hardly a comparison.  Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, a warrior since birth, armed to the teeth, we read of his armor–he was like a human tank!  David was nothing,  a pesky boy, nothing more.  Goliath preened and strutted into the field of battle with real and solid experience, and David was stepping up for his first try.

Goliath begins to blaspheme.  He boasts and mocks.  In his mind he is superior.  His arrogance knows no bounds.  The center of the universe is the Philistine army, and he is their champion.  Nothing can compare, the glory is his, for he believes he is the ultimate warrior on planet Earth.

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground”. 

1 Sam. 17:48

I find David to be exceptional.  His reaction to the human mountain of Goliath was to run directly at him.  This is astonishing.  Goliath is a human wood chipper.  Everyone who has faced him has been destroyed.  There have been no survivors to speak of.

Many of us face a giant called “despair”.  He has marched out on the field of battle confident of his ultimate triumph over us.  We have been tutored that there are enemies that can destroy us.  We’ve been indoctrinated to accept the inevitable slavery with a spirit of sheep-like meekness.

For some reason, the concept of going to war has not been passed on to us.  The ‘enemy-giant’ of despair is real and brutal.  Our destruction is inevitable in his mind.  Despair believes he will destroy us.  Its just a matter of time. As soldiers, we are inclined to stay in the safety of the camp. In the Army, we spread among ourselves the GI wisdom, “Never volunteer for anything.”

So many believers, cowed and intimidated, surrender to the boastings of the giant Despair.  Hope, and faith are drained out of our being, and we become a empty spiritual shell.  The “warfare” dimension gets nullified, and soon irrelevant.  Despair reaches us and has the full intention of taking total control.

David ran to the battle.  He passed through the dark intimidation and influence to approach Goliath.  There was no passiveness or doubt to cloud his mind.  David took a spiritually aggressive position, he took on the confusion and ran directly at the giant Goliath.  His spirit was untouchable.

As believers, we desperately struggle and foolishly pout.  We turn our hearts over to despair.  We become available to the enemies workings.  And the confidence we might have through faith is dissipated into doubt and confusion.  But the victory we have in Christ allows us the liberty, through the Blood of Him who defeats the goliath of despair.

ybic, Bryan

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