Do you delight in God? Has your relationship with God deepened as you learned to trust Him every moment of every day. The time that we spend meditating on the truths of Scripture will not return void in our lives. As we see how God worked throughout the Bible we will learn who He is by His actions displayed faithfully throughout time. In Psalm 99 the psalmist celebrates God’s desires justice. “The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” Psalm 99:4,5 As you have grown to love and follow God has your heart become burdened by the things that burden Him? Do you desire justice as He does? As you look throughout scripture it is evident that God desires and loves justice. His disciple will be marked by His desires. Are you identified by His desires at work in you? Do you desire justice? Continue Reading…
Are you identified by God’s desires at work in you: Psalm 99
God will vindicate the downtrodden, hurt and oppressed: Psalm 82
“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3,4 Who understands the pain you endure? Is there anyone who is on your side? There are many unjust and wicked people in the world who seek their own gain at the cost of many ruined and hurt people. It may seem that they will endure and conquer over the helpless forever but in Psalm 82 Asaph reminds us that God is the preeminent judge who will ultimately deliver the final justice. You may scoff and disbelieve that God will cast judgement but everyone who has sown injustice will reap death and destruction. God will vindicate the downtrodden, hurt and oppressed. “Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations.” Psalm 82:8 Continue Reading…
A message of hope found upon the busy road of life: Psalm 75
Would you pay attention to a man on the side of the road waving his arms proclaiming that he has a message for you? Would you wonder what kind of message would need to be given to you in the midst of your busy comings and goings? Would you think that this man was a crazy lunatic? Would you lock your car doors, turn up the volume on the radio and drive away fast out of fear and anxiety? The messages that are proclaimed in the Bible are messages to you as you busily wander through life. Do you seek to avoid the convicting truths that will bring life to your dead soul? Will you listen to the message or will you listen to the noise of the world around you to overlook and ignore the message? Continue Reading…
To see justice reign in this world of injustice: Psalm 69
Do you desire to sue for justice amongst all the injustices of life. What are you willing to pay to obtain justice? Who are you willing to destroy and climb over to get what you perceive as justice? What defines justice or injustice? The definition of justice and injustice are subjective through the eyes of men because what one man considers just another will believe to be unjust. How do we reconcile the idea of justice as we are caught in the torrent of this sinful world. ”Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; What I did not steal, I then have to restore.” Psalm 69:1-4 We need to plead for God to aid us. We need to acknowledge that God is sovereign over all creation and that he will bring all wrong committed to justice. God alone is the author of justice and He knows what is truly just and unjust. Can you trust Him? Continue Reading…
Ultimate source of justice for the downtrodden and oppressed: Psalm 58
Does justice exist today? Can man truly be just in his actions? In Psalm 58 we are given hope to endure this wicked world that appears to lack justice. David speaks to the wicked of this world, “Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? No in heart you work unrighteousness; on earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.” Psalm 58:1,2 Mankind is cursed by sin and incapable of being just. From birth we are accursed and blinded to the paths of truth and we can only wander in the darkness of our evil deeds. Continue Reading…
Reconciliation in the face of persecution: 1 Chronicles 19 and 20
When conflicts escalate why don’t we seek reconciliation? The story found in 2 Samuel 10 of David’s messengers being abused is retold in 1 Chronicles 19. My attention was not drawn to the story of these men when I read through 2 Samuel 10. These men were completely humiliated and abused by the people of Ammon. David was reaching out to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash after his fathers death but fear lead the princes of Ammon consoled Hanun to act treacherously towards the messengers, David, and Israel. Why does fear drive us to see situations in their worst light?
After these men were humiliated was the situation destined for war? The people of Ammon abused these men insulting David and Israel. What would have happened if the people of Ammon would have reached out to David humbly seeking reconciliation? What was David’s initial reaction to the humiliation of his messengers? The people of Ammon knew that they had insulted David and instead of seeking forgiveness they readied for battle. When we have conflicts why do we seek to get ready for more conflict? What is necessary for conflict resolution to occur? Pride needs to be laid aside by both parties for resolution to be possible. Continue Reading…
Total insurmountable super-sufficiency in Jesus Christ: 1 Kings 21 and 22
The vanity of Ahab and Jezebel is evident in the importance they place on owning a vineyard to plant vegetables. The man Naboth was only seeking to follow God’s command forbidding him from giving the inheritance of his father to Ahab. The scheming of Jezebel leads to the stoning of Naboth all for a plot of land to plant a garden. It is sad when people claim that they have the right to do whatever they choose without concern for the people they hurt in the process. How would you feel if Ahab were in control of your country? Do people in leadership have absolute power or absolute responsibility? When people become so infatuated by the sinful lives they lead the bondage becomes so strong that the door to freedom can only be opened by God. Continue Reading…
