For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
The writer warns us against epicaricacy, against taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, even if those others have been our enemies. God offered love and forgiveness to us when we were His enemies, let us do the same to those who oppose us. We are also warned against envying the wicked and wishing we were in their shoes. The wicked have no hope (whether they know it or not) and will be snuffed out as if they had never been.
God has a plan, when the time He has chosen arrives He will judge the wicked. When turmoil strikes around us, when the nations of the world are shaken as by an earthquake, God provides a firm foundation. This image provided by the psalmist offers me such hope as I look at the world today. For most of my life, the world seemed politically stable, but recently there have been disruptions all over the world. The psalmist reminds us that even in turmoil like we see today, God will provide a firm foundation. The wicked seem to be rising to dominance in many parts of the world, but God will bring them judgment. The proud and wicked may shake their fists at God, but He will bring them to judgment in the fullness of time. In the meantime, I will praise Him, and rest secure on the foundation He has provided.
There is great advice in this passage that fits together into a nice whole. Paul tells us that we should, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” He then tells us how we can find that joy. When we find ourselves worrying about something, we should pray about it. And not just about what we are worrying about, but about everything. Let us go to God and tell Him what we need, but at the same time let us thank Him for what He has done for us. If we faithfully do this, God’s peace will fill and guard our hearts and minds.
There is one more step in finding the joy which God has to offer us. If we fill our minds thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, we will not have time to think about the things which worry and depress us. Just as if we fill our time doing good, doing the things God wants us to do, we will not have time to sin, so if we spend our time thinking about the aforementioned things we will not have time to think about things which trouble us.
The first message of this passage is that when God calls you to speak His words do not say, “I am too young,” or “I am too old.” We must go where God sends us and speak the words He gives us. God will put His words in our mouth and we must stand up and proclaim it in front of those whom He sends us.
Those who were supposed to teach God’s ways ignore Him. The spiritual leaders do not even ask “What is God’s will?” The prophets prophecy in the name of idols. Look around, people are trading the true God for worthless idols. People are no longer ashamed of doing evil. They are only ashamed of getting caught. If people do not repent and return to the Lord, His judgment will fall upon them in devastating fashion. Let us pray for God’s mercy upon our land.