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 10-17.

    In many ways I see these psalms as reflections of the world today. The wicked seem to prosper. They prey upon the weak, who cry out to God for aid. The wicked are sure that no one will hold them to account because they control the levers of political power. Bit by bit, the foundations of law and order are destroyed, while people foolishly look on and say, “What does it matter? There is no God.” Some people react to this by moving to the mountains, or other remote locations. But I know that there IS a God and that He will call the wicked to account. He will protect the righteous. The wicked may proudly stand and be praised for their evil deeds, but God will not be mocked. He will bring about justice. It may seem like evil is triumphant, but that will not last.

   The psalmist tells us that no one does good and then in the very next psalm declares that only those who do right may worship in God’s sanctuary. What does that mean for us? Does that mean that no one can worship in God’s sanctuary? No, it means that we all have to acknowledge that we have sinned, that we are no better than the wicked I condemned in the last paragraph. It is only when I accept my sinfulness and accept God’s forgiveness that I can begin the process of being healed. However, that does not mean that I can just continue to sin either. If I desire to enter into God’s presence I must seek to lead a blameless life. Here is the goal:

• Do what is right.

It is not enough to not do what is wrong. We must also do what is right.

• Speak the truth from a sincere heart.

If we speak the truth with the intent of hurting others, we have missed the point.

• Refuse to gossip.

OK, I think this one is pretty straightforward, but it is harder than it looks.

• Refuse to harm out neighbors.

Remember what Jesus says about who our neighbors are.

• Refuse to speak evil of our friends.

I think that Jesus would tell us that our friends are in the same category as our neighbors.

• Despise flagrant sinners.

This one is tough because we are supposed to love everyone, but I think we get an understanding of what he means when we look back to where it talks about evil being praised…we should do the opposite and call evil evil.

I could go on, but I think you can see where I am going as you read the rest of Psalms 15. There is so much more to be said about what is written in this passage, but I will leave off with this: “I am determined not to sin in what I say.”

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 1-9.

    I love these psalms, but I always struggle to write my blog entry because each one of them expresses a different thought about our relationship with God. Psalms 1 tells us of the joy in studying God’s word and meditating on His commands. Those who do so are firm and established. While the wicked get blown around as if by the wind. The wicked view God’s commands as chains which they desire to break and godliness as slavery (Psalms 2). However, they will discover that their rebellion leads only to heartbreak and loss. Whereas those who embrace God’s commands find them to be protection from the winds of life (Psalms 3). Even though they are surrounded by enemies they can lay down and sleep knowing that they will wake up in God’s peace. I think the points made here are reflected in society around us, those who reject God’s commands keep changing what is, and what is not, acceptable behavior. While the godly calmly continue to allow God to direct their thoughts despite the attacks against them.

    As you can see, when I started to write a theme emerged. Now I am going to make a stretch and put together some things which are not exactly connected in the passage (but which I think are connected in life). The psalmist warns us allowing our anger to lead us to sin. Instead we should put off comment and/or action until we have had a chance to get a night’s sleep and think about it. In the meantime we should do as the psalmist did in Psalms 8 & 9. Praise God, look at the night sky and see His wondrous handiwork. Yes, before we act on our anger let us sing praises to God and recognize His majesty. Then we will be prepared to rely on God to mete out the appropriate punishment to those who have angered us, and to be satisfied with His justice if He does not appear to do so.