Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 82-89.

On this past Saturday, I wrote that rulers who care for the needy are worthy of their power.  Today, Psalm 82 warns those rulers who defend the unjust and show favoritism to the wicked.  They may think themselves strong and powerful, but God will judge them for their failure to take up the cause of the poor and oppressed.  They will die like all other mortals and stand before God for judgement.  Moving on, when I came to Psalm 83, part of me wanted to apply it to modern Israel.  To a small degree I think it does, although modern Israel falls far short of truly fulfilling their side of God’s covenant with Israel.  Nevertheless, those who form an alliance against Israel should take warning from this psalm.  As I wrote that it occurred to me that I have recently seen some videos of people claiming to have arguments which will bring down the faith of Christians.  This psalm is also a warning to them.

As I read on I see some other things which apply more directly to me.  Do I really take to heart that being in God’s presence is better than being anywhere else?  Do I really feel that being a servant to God, being one who works hard day in and day out with little reward is better than being an honored guest among the wicked?  I strive to listen to God and not turn to folly, that I may hear His word and thus rely on His faithfulness.  I wish that His Spirit will transform me so that my heart will be undivided as I sing of great love and faithfulness.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 82-89.

The psalmist challenges rulers by comparing them to gods who defend the unjust and favor the wicked.  He points out that God demands the opposite from rulers who wish His blessing.  A good government defends the weak and upholds the cause of the oppressed.  It rescues the weak and needy from the hand of the wicked.  As I read further, I felt like the psalmist was talking to the people of today, to those who today are seeking to destroy Israel as a nation and eliminate those whose ancestry might lead them to attempt to rebuild it.  The psalmist begs God to cover with shame those who seek the destruction of Israel and her people.  But here is where we see that our God is different.  The psalmist, as we should as well, seeks them to be covered in shame, not so that they will suffer, but so that they will seek the Lord.  Oh that God’s enemies would realize that being a servant in God’s house is more desirable than having access to all of the pleasures obtainable living among the wicked.  Let us join the psalmist in begging God to give us an undivided heart, a heart which seeks only the good which comes from obeying the Lord for those who persecute us, not vengeance for the suffering we, or others, have suffered at their hands.  The psalmist tells us that God will record people of all nations as acknowledging, as serving, Him.  Let us strive to seek to show them why they should do so by making His faithfulness known to all generations.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 82-89.

In the first of today’s psalms, those who created the NIV translation chose to put the word “gods” in quotes.  I am not a Hebrew scholar, but I am quite confident that there are no quotes in the Hebrew manuscripts from which this passage was translated.  I am equally confident that the translators conveyed the psalmist’s meaning accurately when they used those quotation marks here.  The psalmist warns these “gods” that ultimately God sits in judgement over them.  He then asks them how long they will defend the unjust and side with the wicked?  The psalmist demands that these “gods” defend the weak and uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed.  He goes on to remind these “gods” that they will die just like all other mortals.  As I read this I thought of those who consider themselves the elites of our society today.  They too often seem to defend the unjust and favor the wicked.  They refuse to defend the fatherless or rescue the weak.  They, like those discussed in the second of today’s psalms, conspire against God and those who serve Him.  However, as the psalmist prays, God will not remain silent.  Even now He is sending them a warning in the fires which are consuming the forests.  He will bring judgement against them.

I use 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 am going to write the thoughts which came to me as I read today’s psalms, even though today’s psalms have disparate themes.  The first psalm starts out with a challenge to those in positions of authority.  All too often those with power and authority defend the unjust and show favor to the wicked.  The psalmist calls on them to instead defend the weak and uphold the cause of the oppressed, to rescue the weak from the hand of the wicked.  Paul writes in his letter to the Church in Rome that God established the government to punish the wicked.  The psalmist points out here that many in positions of authority not only fail that purpose, but actively aid the wicked.  However, the psalmist also warns them that if they fail to administer justice, God will take matters into His own hands and they will be on the receiving end along with the wicked whom they aided.  All too often those whom the psalmist was addressing here respond to the knowledge that God will judge them by plotting against those who faithfully follow Him.  They come to believe that they can escape God’s judgement by silencing those who speak His word.  However, God alone is the Most High over all of the earth and will show Himself to them.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 82-89.

As I read this I was struck by several things.  The first psalm today tells us that rulers have been given their authority by God (my reading between the lines and bringing some things in from other parts of the Bible) in order to defend the weak and the fatherless and to uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed.  If they fail to do these things they will suffer God’s judgement.  The second of today’s psalms beg God to strike down His enemies, those who conspire against His people.  Then it takes an interesting turn: the psalmist asks God to do so in order that those He is judging will seek His name.  Let us think and act similarly so that when we seek the downfall of those who do evil we do so in order to turn them to God.

Later in these psalms the psalmist cries out to God asking Him to restore us, to revive us again.  That phrase, which appears throughout the Psalms inspired a great hymn.  That hymn contains references to the other portion of today’s psalms I wanted to touch on.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.

Which is referenced in yet another great hymn.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

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.

Throughout history God calls on rulers to give justice to the poor and the powerless, to uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.  When rulers heed God’s call, their society has prospered.  Yet, also throughout history rulers have time and again failed to do so, have instead been the oppressors.  When the latter happens people conspire against God’s people, both the descendants of Jacob and those who serve His Son.  They seek to wipe them out completely, but fail every time.  Such things happen when God’s people stray to far from Him.

So, let us cry out to God to restore us once more to His favor.  Let us pray that he teach us His ways so that we may know His truth and live by it.  Each and every one of us needs to remember that there is A truth and that truth is God’s truth.  We live in a society which is determined to convince us that there is no truth, or that there are multiple truths: that the truth is different for everyone.

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 feel like a broken record.  Today’s psalms contain many words which speak to me.  I only hope that I can put the ideas together in a way which makes a coherent whole.  We begin with God calling on governing authorities to stop handing down unjust decisions which favor the wicked.  God will not be silent as the powers of this world conspire against His people.  While this passage specifically cites the people and nation of Israel as God’s people, I believe He will render judgement against those who similarly conspire against the followers of His Son.  A position supported by Psalm 87, which tells us that all are welcome to become citizens of Jerusalem, God’s city.  The psalmist is not referring here primarily to the geographic location of Jerusalem.  He is referring to the City of God in Heaven.

The psalmist tells us how we can become citizens of the City of God.  We do so by crying out to Him and listening carefully to what He says.  If we beg Him to do so, He will teach us His ways so that we may live according to His truth.  Let us call on God to revive us again.  Let us pray to Him that He sends His Spirit upon us so that we might shine His light upon this unjust world.  The psalmist reminds us that there is greater joy being a servant in God’s courts than in being a ruler over any other portion of all of Creation.  Let us live as if we believe that and show the joy which comes from serving God to all whom we meet.