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 82-89.

    I truly believe that the first of today’s psalms is addressed to rulers and government officials, especially those who believe that their position makes them superior to others. God has commissioned those in government, whether they acknowledge Him or not, to give justice, especially to the poor and powerless. God has appointed them to deliver the poor and the helpless from evil people. However, all too often, rather than fulfill their commission they join with the oppressors. However, in due time, they will discover that they are just like everyone else and they too shall die. They shall face God’s judgment and He will hold them to account for failing to carry out the task which He gave them.

    The other psalm I am going to focus your attention on today is Psalms 84. The psalmist expresses his desire to be with God, to live in God’s house. I will echo the psalmist and say that I would rather be the lowliest servant in God’s presence than the ruler of the entire earth, with all the pleasures possible at my finger tips. I will trust in God because He will deliver true joy. I said that I was going to limit myself to these two psalms, but my thoughts on Psalms 84 lead me right into Psalms 86. In particular Psalms 86:11

Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.

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 82-89.

    God will ultimately sit in judgment of those who govern on this earth. He will call them to account for their unjust decisions, He will hold them accountable for their failure to give justice to the poor and the powerless. We are all children of God, those who govern unjustly will die, just like everyone else. Every nation on this earth belongs to God, those who govern them are just His caretakers and He will judge them for how they do so. There are always those who think that they can use the power which God has loaned them to strike down God’s people and take their property. In the fullness of time (I really like that expression), God will show them the error of their ways (I like that expression as well) and they will be destroyed.

    I am going to do a bit of an aside, because I think that both Psalm 82 and 83 have great relevance to what is going on in the world today. Psalm 82 speaks of those who hand down unjust rulings which favor the wicked. Psalm 82 is a warning to them and a beacon of hope for the rest of us. When I read the news I see so many occurrences of where the government (not just of the U.S.) hands down rulings which do not grant justice to the poor and powerless; where rather than deliver the poor and helpless from the hands of the wicked the government turns them over to them. God will not long stand idly by and watch as this goes on. Psalm 83 speaks of those who have allied and plotted to attack and destroy God’s people. It speaks of how God will scatter them and destroy them. Once more, when I read the news I see that many nations have plotted against the nation of Israel. I have seen this in the news for years, but now recently I have begun to see news of how those nations are beginning to see their destructive ways come home to roost. I will point out that this psalm can also be applied to those who attack the Church.

    I don’t want to end this without spending some time on the rest of the psalms in today’s reading because they are so inspiring. Psalm 84 reminds us that it is better to work and have little in the House of the Lord than have plenty and lounge around in the house of the wicked. Psalm 85 is a prayer asking God to restore and revive us. Even beyond being a prayer it reminds us that listening to what God has to say and following His instructions is the path to that revival. Then Psalm 86 tells us to seek God’s teaching so that we can live according to His truth. We should ask God to give us a pure heart so that we can bring honor to His name. Psalm 87 promises us that no matter where you were born, or who your parents are, you are welcome to become a citizen in God’s Kingdom. And Psalm 89 teaches us that there is no one and nothing as powerful, majestic, and worthy of honor as our God. God’s love will never fail us.