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.”