Category: rebellion

Psalm 51:14–17: What God Delights In

rebellion-seen

I am lost without you

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Both Psalms 32 and 51 are about David’s sorrow and repentance because of his adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, who David purposely placed on the front lines of military battle, where he would surely die. In verses 14 and 15 he asks God for forgiveness for the murder (“bloodguilt”) so that he can sing of God’s righteousness and offer him praise. Derek Kidner, in his commentary on the Psalms, is helpful here in suggesting that David wants to extol God for his righteousness because he (David) sees God’s crowning achievement being making an egregious sinner like David righteous!

In verses 16 and 17 it’s obvious that King David has learned from his predecessor King Saul’s mistakes. This insight is often overlooked in sermons and commentaries. Saul was given clear instructions by God through the prophet Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites and he disobeyed these instructions. He spared Agag, king of the Amalekites, and the best of the livestock so he could offer sacrifices to the Lord. Samuel’s rebuke of Saul essentially said, “Don’t think these sacrifices impress God. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Your disobedience is similar to witchcraft and idolatry. Sacrifice is good but it means nothing if your heart isn’t right.”

The parallels to our present age are legion. Anytime someone is involved in religious activities–i.e. “sacrifices”–but their heart is wrong, they are following in the footsteps of Saul. One thinks of the Pharisees, both in the time of Jesus and now, who were/are more engaged in religious activities than anyone, but their hearts were full of pride and self–righteousness.

As a Roman Catholic, I often hear complaints from fellow parishioners about “cradle Catholics,” who were born into the faith, and do many of the right Catholic things–”sacrifices”–but their hearts are not humble and contrite and they are far from an intimate relationship with Christ. This is a kind of empty “cultural Christianity” that exists in every denomination.

Movements come and go within Christendom.  Some local churches emerge to ride the next big thing.  They become the most fashionable place to be involved. Sometimes the reason some of the members give their time, talent and treasure–”sacrifices”–to these churches is not to advance the kingdom of God; no, it’s because their involvement makes them feel hip and a part of a special group in comparison to all those boring, generic suburban Christians. And they get to rebel against their un–hip parents, who they are angry with, as part of a package deal!

What does David mean in verse 17 by saying that God wants a broken and contrite heart? Because Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride (Matthew 25:1–13), sometimes it helps to understand biblical principles through the marriage relationship. When a husband has sinned against his wife and knows it, often he will engage in a flurry of activities–”sacrifices”– in order to extricate himself from the doghouse. Suddenly he’s bringing home flowers and candy and is doing home–improvement projects that she wanted done several months ago. However, what she really wants is not a whirlwind of goodwill gestures; no, what she really wants is an apology marked by humility and sorrow for what he did. She needs to know that he is truly sorry, not because his carelessness put him in the doghouse, but because what he did hurt, and was a sin against, her.

It’s never too late for the Pharisee, the “cultural Christian” or the “Christian hipster.” Or me, for that matter. We can still offer sacrifices that God will delight in if we come to him with a broken and contrite heart for the many ways we have offended him. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

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ybic, Jonathan

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I Must Have Mercy! Psalms 6

A Prayer for Mercy in Troubled Times
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.

 1 Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry; 
       don’t punish me when you are very angry.
 2 Lord, have mercy on me because I am weak. 
       Heal me, Lord, because my bones ache.
 3 I am very upset. 
       Lord, how long will it be? 

 4 Lord, return and save me; 
       save me because of your kindness. 
 5 Dead people don’t remember you; 
       those in the grave don’t praise you. 

 6 I am tired of crying to you. 
       Every night my bed is wet with tears; 
       my bed is soaked from my crying. 
 7 My eyes are weak from so much crying; 
       they are weak from crying about my enemies. 

 8 Get away from me, all you who do evil, 
       because the Lord has heard my crying. 
 9 The Lord has heard my cry for help; 
       the Lord will answer my prayer.
 10 All my enemies will be ashamed and troubled. 
       They will turn and suddenly leave in shame.

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This is the first seven “penitential” psalms written by David. Residing within each psalm the themes of regret, and contriteness, brokenness and self reproach. However, you could say these emotions are the engines that push David’s faith, especially at this particular moment.

Many of us understand these, at least to some degree. These psalms are especially prized by those of us in ‘liturgical services’, with some of these seven read aloud every Sunday. The first few verses of this work contain words like “correction” and “anger.” (The NCV also uses the word “punish.”)

In Hebrews 12, we see that God definitely intervenes into the lives of His own. He corrects, working to adjust us according to His will. The basis of this is relationship between a Father, and a son or daughter. There is harsh correction at times, as we learn how to behave. If He loves you, and you are His son, you will be corrected. Love and discipline are working together, side by side.

Commentary

V. 1, Correction and punishment have become very significant issues to David. They begin to engage him and he is aware that things can get quite turbulent.  Anger on any level can warrant our attention. But when God gets angry, it can be lethal.

V. 2, 3 mercy is a very precious commodity at this moment. And it is all that he wants.  Mercy is never deserved, it can’t be earned, it just is given. It is clemency and generosity blended together. David knows this about God, and he “plays the mercy card.” David knows God, he just doesn’t always obey Him.

“How long will it be?” shows a desire to get things on track, and soon.  Waiting for God to decide can be traumatic. Separation from Him is profoundly painful.

“The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience.”

    Oswald Chambers

V. 4,  5 these verses fit together like puzzle pieces. David, when faced with his own depraved actions, turns and calls out for deliverance from the consequences. The key word in v. 4 is “kindness.” And this is exactly what he is aiming for.

The obvious meaning is that death and the grave end all possibility of change. The word is “Sheol.” A Hebrew word describing the grave, where the unsaved are placed when they die. Once there, you are “locked in” with no possibility of changing. Ultimately, it is the complete divorce from God’s presence and that without remedy.

V. 6, 7  Crying. Crying. Crying, Crying. It appears that remorse and grief are now the whole of David’s theology. And David is fatigued by it. Grief is exhausting. It is so intense and consuming, it wears you out. Jesus in the NT had much to say about grieving our sin. About brokenness, and mourning. He made it the starting point of a real Christian life.

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

C.S. Lewis

V.8 is a needful stop in a believer’s life. We must pull into this place. It is here that separation takes place. I leave the world by deliberate choice. I have no intentions of following sinners in their rebellion.  “I see dead people” was a line from the movie, “The Sixth Sense. Sadly, it works well here.

V.  9, 10 we see the use  in verse 9, of the past tense. And I must say that this is a relief. Mercy has been shown, but only when it is appealed to.  There is a deep confidence that is quite opposite of some earlier verses.

David shines a spotlight on the strategies of evil people who have afflicted him. He enjoys the idea of evil being stripped and defeated. Today, I think it is completely appropriate to include your spiritual enemies in this equation, and throughout the psalms when this is mentioned.

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ybic, Bryan

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Recognizing My Rebellion: Psalm 51:3-5

3 “For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”

Psalm 51:3-5, NLT

In this life, we must understand our inner rebellion and  sin. We had better accept and agree with God on this basic matter. If we really are going to be truthful people we have to really focus on this fundamental understanding of our own depravity.

This is the first of seven of Psalms we call “penitential.” It is probably the best known of these seven. Psalm 51 can be broken down into subcategories. Of course, the title precisely cues us in the time David met with Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:1-14.

Commentary

V. 3, “ ”For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.”

David doesn’t cling to false platitudes. He is not deceived by creating a new image. He doesn’t care a whit about public relations. It may seem like he is being a little hard on himself. There are some that suggest that David may be too morbid, too moody. But you try to commit adultery, and than murder, then you can judge the entire scene.

But David has looked into a mirror, and he’s stepped away from it. He cannot forget what he saw. He sees his “rebellion” for what it really is– that he is warped and twisted. David can’t shake off this sense of shame and grief. He has committed adultery which has led to murder of one of his best generals.

V. 4, “Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.“

All of our sins are against God. Failure to see this results in a repentance that is premature, and deficient. This inadequate repentance will not change you, but only makes you feel somewhat better.

There is no doubt that David sinned terribly against Bathsheba, and her husband Uriah. What he did to them was so wrong, on so many levels. But, what about God? David’s selfishness, greed, lust offended God. Perhaps we need to tweak our concepts. The higher in status and power a person is, the greater the offense. All sin is sin against a holy God.

What David believed is that God could say what God wanted about him, and it would be right and true, for God cannot be otherwise. But rather than stubbornly avoiding God, David sees the positive and he chooses to honor God by his authentic repentance.

V. 5, “For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”

David is not saying that his mother was immoral. Rather he is recognizing the depth of his own sin. (He knows who he is, he’s got this tattoo, “Born to Sin” on his biceps.)

ybic, Bryan

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Relearning Repentance: Psalm 51:1-2

“For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.”

1 “Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.”

Psalm 51:1-2, NLT

I’m starting to realize that if you’re not right with God, you’re wrong in everything else. I’m pretty sure that David felt the strain of his sin. Committing adultery and murder will leave its indelible mark.

This psalm is addressed to God. Actually, I’m a bit surprised that we can even read this, as it is quite intimate. But perhaps David realized his sin was public, and so must his repentance be. Too many people knew, and there was no way to put a lid on it.

Repentance is the concentrated activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs.

Commentary

V.1, “Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.”

Think about it.

  1. David doesn’t make any promises.
  2. David knows God’s heart.
  3. David completely understands the condition of his own heart.

And now he asks for mercy. Mercy is a strong grace that is available to those who know they are rascals. We don’t deserve it. But God bestows it anyway.

I believe that this ‘mercy’ is on a case-by-case basis. Each of us must make this transaction with God. We have this Psalm to guide us into a deeper repentance.

“It’s Satan’s delight to tell me that once he’s got me, he will keep me. But at that moment I can go back to God. And I know that if I confess my sins, God is faithful and just to forgive me.”  Alan Redpath

This undertaking demands everything we have. It should never be sloppy or careless. We shouldn’t try to accelerate through this. We will only be re-routed by the Holy Spirit until we finally “get it.”

V. 2, “Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.”

Clean before my Lord, I stand. Not one blemish does He see. There are so many who need to spend time on God’s washboard. Now is your time to be fully cleansed.

Repentance is a daily work because we commit sins everyday. There are sins of commission and of omission. We all do wrong things, and we also miss things we should have done.

“That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

Joel 2:12, NLT

ybic, Bryan

Where No Enemy Can Reach: Psalm 62:5-8

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge.    Interlude

Psalm 62:5-8, NLT

Verses 5-6 are ‘almost’ duplicates with verses 1-2. I have used this thought before, but verses that seem repetitive suggest something to pay extra attention. I see them as ‘laminates.’ They come together, and become stronger.

Through these verses, David is exclusively focused on God’s excellence. His words are winsome and his zeal is admirable. David really doesn’t want to talk about anything else– he is a rarity, he is a God-intoxicated man.

Commentary

V. 5, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”

This is a repeat of verse 1. I think it is repeated as an emphasis for us. Waiting quietly is not easy for us. Our impatience and our pride sabotage the process. We just feel too self-important to wait for anyone.

V. 6, “He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.”

This is a repeat of verse 2. When a songwriter finds a theme in his work, he’ll write it in a “chorus.” This chorus usually is repeated a few times through the song. Perhaps that is what is taking place through David, in this psalm?

V. 7, “My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”

David sees himself as being evaluated by God alone. Anything of value (victory, and honor) will come as a exclusive effort from the Lord. David isn’t going to look for these things anywhere else.

A refuge is a “place of safety.” It is the place of immunity, and a place of utmost protection. Back in verse 3, David disclosed details of murder plots. When your life is threatened you’ll need a safe place to go.

V. 8, “O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. Interlude”

I think David is speaking as a king here, to his subjects. He advocates a constant trust in Him. He exhorts his people to pour out everything to God, and hold nothing back.

“For God is our refuge. Selah.” 

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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 Messiah Enthroned: Psalm 2:4-6

4 “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
    in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Psalm 2:4-6, NLT

When we read this, we are made very much aware that the conspiracies of the lost are of no consequence. He sees, He acknowledges them,  and then He laughs. Whatever they conjure up is of very little significance. He is aware, but is never vulnerable.

We hear a laughter coming from the throne. The Father is amused at the efforts of men, who seek to dispose of Him. There is something comical about what they are doing. It is a joke. There are many who believe they can dismiss God, and they try very hard to nullify and to sidetrack His presence.

Commentary

V. 4, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.”

He is a ruler. His rule and reign is never, ever threatened by the machinations of men. There is absolutely not a single thing that we can do about it. Our strategies are only an amusement to heaven. We try so hard to “zero” out Him, but He continues to influence, and rule over us.

This is disturbing to secular man. We have developed over time, a society of complete resistance to the ‘idea’ of a God. Teachers and philosophers have advanced ‘workable’ ideas to dethrone Him. We encounter this militant attitude on a daily basis.

V.5, ” Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.”

This is a strong and active response to those who have tried to hijack our civilization, and turn from Him enmass. There is a laughter, but with it an anger.  We shouldn’t minimize His reaction. We may love Him for many things, but are we really aware of a wrath that is ‘terrific’ to those in opposition?

Over time and through many centuries, we have cultivated this ‘fear’ of God. We simply do not see Him as He really is anymore. If we believe that God exists at all, we make Him out to be an insensitive ogre, malicious and beastly. There are few that understand His true nature.

V. 6, “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

There is an agenda, that we seldom understand. It has to do with God deciding and then willing His choice of King. He has fixed the messiah on a throne. This is a place ‘fit for a chosen king.’ This particular King is not to be trifled with, He rules completely even in spite of our shrill protestations.

This verses are ‘messianic’ even if we are not. They teach us that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy. We can’t vote on a ‘messiah.’ It is not our decision to make. The choice has already been made. Period, end of discussion.

ybic, Bryan

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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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Lightning Rods: Psalm 34:19-22

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:19-22

“How frail is humanity!
    How short is life, how full of trouble!”

Job 14:1

“If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.”

John Heywood, (English Playwright and Poet, 1497-1580)

The conclusion of this psalm is a description of the believer’s troubles. I daresay there is as much tribulation and trial in the Bible as the subjects of grace and love. We will find a freedom in the Lord once we stumble upon this realization. It seems I am always in “hot water,” but it keeps me clean!

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

Commentary

V. 19, “The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”

To deny that there are difficulties for the believer is silly. We seem to generate new ones on a daily basis. This is God’s work bench. And He seems to be quite comfortable with this arrangement. Only He calls them “trials.” We shouldn’t think we will eventually mature and attain some powerful wisdom. (I wish this was so.) Maturity is not the absence of issues, but the result of going through them.

The Lord is into “search and rescue.” The rescue part is great! Each of His children have this knack (or grace) in their lives. This is the doctrine of “the perseverance of the saints.” God is active and in every situation He brings deliverance and extrication.

V. 20, “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!”

In the Midwest, almost every home and barn has at least one lightning rod. I have seen three or four on bigger barns. Since there are so many thunderstorms, people have to protect their homes from strikes. You haven’t lived until you have seen lightning hit these rods.

We are much like this. We seem to attract all kinds of things. We are afflicted, but we have hope. Nothing can remain broken.

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 1:4

V. 21, “Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.”

This awesome dynamic only works for believers. For those still separated from God, we should only expect trials to hurt and break. The unbeliever can only expect his/her trials to harm and injure. It is a sad thing to watch, but there are so many who are in pain. “The wages of sin is death.” I’m glad I’m no longer on that particular payroll.

V. 22, “ But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”

Redeem and Refuge. Both words require some interesting initiative on our part as believers. The ‘redeem’ phrase puts out the idea of service. When we set our live to be His servants He runs out to meet us (a.k.a. “the Prodigal Son” in Luke 15.)

The ‘refuge’ phrase works off the idea of the cities of Refuge in the O.T. Someone guilty could flee to them for safety. What was literal in the O.T. is a figurative (or spiritual) in the N.T. We have committed sins, indecencies, and rebellious acts. But there is a rescuer, a redeemer most gentle and kind.

ybic, Bryan

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“The Lord Sphere”– Psalm 34:15-18

15 “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
    his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
    he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Psalm 34:15-18

I call this “the Lord Sphere.” You will find each verse reveals something incredible about Him, the Lord phrase is clearly mentioned in each verse. That must be where we should begin our efforts to understand these verses– we belong in “the Lord Sphere.”

Jehovah God is not a mere tribal deity of the rag-tag Israelites. He is not a second tier God with aspirations to be more. Rather, He declares He is supreme, the Creator and Sustainer of everything we see and can’t see. This is never, ever negotiable or refutable. But there is more, and these verses will show them to us.

Commentary

V. 15, “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
    his ears are open to their cries for help.”

We are not talking physical eyes, but much more. He easily observes all 7 billion of us on this planet. What He possesses is not a general sight, but one that can pick out His people, sifting and discerning them from others.

Eyes and ears. I suppose that eyes could be enough. But ears, well that means a lot. These ears are open, and attuned to the voices of those in trouble. All who cry to Him will get His help. He doesn’t wear a “hearing aid.”

V. 10, “ But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
    he will erase their memory from the earth.”

Nowhere in the Bible do we see God unwilling to discern good and evil. To “turn your face against something” was to declare unacceptability and undesirability. God will have nothing to do with anything unholy. He cannot blend His heart with sin and darkness. “He resists the proud.”

The phrase, “erase their memory,” is the ultimate act. Because evil people are so entrenched in their sin, they will have no future in the Kingdom of God. They’ve chosen sin over all else, to replace Him. You could say that they have essentially renounced their citizenship in the Kingdom. They have no future.

V. 17, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.”

This verse should be understood in contrast with v. 16. He hears when you start to cry out for help. You are His people, and like a “good shepherd” He is there! All of heaven is energized, and then mobilized to intervene for your rescue.

“Troubles” can mean anything. I think of Satan with a very thick catalogue that itemizes each pain and grief he can unleash on you. However, each trouble can be transformed by God, to be good and useful in your life.

V. 18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

One of my favorite verses. I have struggled with many things, I have let sin rule me. I have had many bad moments. My physical and mental health have been broken. But rather than it distancing me from Him, I see Him drawing closer. Brokenness in His eyes is a true mark of beauty!

You are crushed when a vast weight presses you to the ground. It is such a weight that all you can do is crumble. There is nothing, from our viewpoint, good or delightful about being crushed. But… God coming to the rescue.

ybic, Bryan

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Calcified Hearts: Psalms 78:32-39

32 But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. 
      Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him. 
 33 So he ended their lives in failure, 
      their years in terror. 
 34 When God began killing them, 
      they finally sought him. 
      They repented and took God seriously. 
 35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, 
      that God Most High[a] was their redeemer. 
 36 But all they gave him was lip service; 
      they lied to him with their tongues. 
 37 Their hearts were not loyal to him. 
      They did not keep his covenant. 
 38 Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins 
      and did not destroy them all. 
   Many times he held back his anger 
      and did not unleash his fury! 
 39 For he remembered that they were merely mortal, 
      gone like a breath of wind that never returns.

Psalms 78:32-39, NLT

When I read this portion of scripture, I try to imagine the emotions of God. This Psalm is one of the “failure kind.” It has a definite weave running through it, and the true theme is sin, with all its allurement and enticement. The secondary theme would have to be God’s work in trying to separate His people from their sin. Will He succeed?

Commentary

V. 32, the earlier verses describe God’s supernatural provision. We discover that the people won’t trust God, no matter what happens. They are locked into sin and unbelief. We call this “rebellion” and I see this as the powerful sin of our generation.

V. 33 reveals the results of this. Failure and defeat. These are anathema to human beings. A subjugated people are frustrated and very weak and desperately afraid.

V. 34 the children of Israel become a target for God’s sharp arrows. God culls them out and takes away His gift of life from them. Was Israel being mistreated? Actually it does seem the other way around. Israel was mistreating God! But a key moment came when so many people died, they finally got very serious. But it took God’s heavy hand to bring this about.

V. 35 “Then they remembered that God was their rock,  that God Most High was their redeemer.” To remember is a gift. For too often we just buzz through life without thinking about it. Remember our rock and redeemer. Remember who you belong to.

V. 36, This was a well orchestrated deceit. To pay lip service only. This was not just the behavior of Old Testament Israelites.  We do the same, far too frequently. The verse said that they lied to Him!

V. 37, “Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.” Rarely it seems, do we mix our faith with loyalty. We admire loyal people, but from a distance. God puts a premium on it, however.

V. 38, describes the deep patience of God over our lives. His basic heart is to always forgive. I truly believe that it is very hard to provoke Him to anger. He isn’t like us at all. We can be angry people, but we are most like our Father when we choose to overlook sin.

V. 39 we see that God understands us fully. He sees the big picture. Our lives are very short, fleeting. He grasps our temporary status on this earth, and because our lives are so precarious, He takes that into account.


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