As I read through Scripture each year, June is the month that I spend time in the Psalms and Proverbs. We are reminded at the beginning that a man who delights in the law of the Lord is blessed, rather like a tree by a stream of water. It is cared for by receiving plenty of nutrition, resulting in bearing fruit in the proper season. The person who goes to the Word of God daily will gain wisdom, thus prospering beyond any material gain.
We are also reminded what happens to the wicked who have no respect for God, but rather do things the way they want—being referred to as wicked, sinners and mockers. The path of the wicked sinner will lead to their destruction. If not in this life, certainly in the next.
Years ago, as a new Christian, I had memorized Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” I have fallen back on this Scripture many times through the years as a comfort in times of evil attacks. I know many of you have experienced such attacks, what Scripture do you fall on to strengthen you? We can always count on His Word and know He is there for us.
As we read through the Psalms, we can also see happenings of today as well (I’m sure many generations have been comforted by the Psalms). Psalm 78:32, 26-37 struck a pang of sadness for me as I read, “But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite His wonders, they refused to trust Him. But all they gave Him was lip service; they lied to Him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to Him. They did not keep His covenant.” Are we living in a time of promises and lip service and yet people’s hearts are far from Him.
Many that step foot in church on a regular basis, leave the church and continue with language and behavior that does not glorify Him and you would have no clue that they even go to church let alone claiming to be a child of the King! There is no way that, as a Christ follower, you should be using profane language as Ephesians 5 reminds us to stay away from sins of sexual immorality, impurity and greed along with obscene and foolish talk and course joking. I beg you, read Ephesians 4 and 5 over and over until it sinks in how we are to behave and talk as Christ followers.
The day is coming when He will “Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to You.” (Psalm 82:8) Even though in todays world, most of the nations have turned away from God, the day will come when He takes possession of all that is His. Be sure you are on the right side!
And then there are prayers in Psalms that I use often in my talking with Him. My paraphrase for Psalm 19:13-14 is “keep me from willful sin, don’t let them rule over me! Then I will be free from guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, my Lord and my Rock!” Or how about Psalm 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.” And finally, my heart longs for the direction of our Lord as I pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Show me anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
May we remember that “He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with truth.” This is stated in Psalm 96:13 and repeated again in Psalm 98:9. Judgement is coming, we don’t know when but make sure you are right before the Lord. Make sure you don’t put off your surrendering to Him. That judgement will come when you are least expecting it—stand ready.
I will close today with Psalm 103: 17-18, “But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments.”
Be blessed my friends, and know I always look forward to hearing from you.