Category: QuietTimes

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
  what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:3-4 [ESV]

Psalm 8 is such a recognizable passage for many of us. When I look at the stars, I comprehend the magnitude of Who God is…and even then, He is so much bigger than that. I see His greatness in the work of His creation. The vastness of space and depth and complication of how it all works together is reflective of the beauty of Who created it. When the Psalmist talks about the ‘Work of His fingers’ there is a sense that God is personally and intimately involved in what He creates.

Why are we so exalted in position in this cast work He has created? God has all of the light years of space He has stitched together yet He actively cares for you and me. It is in prayer life and the visible work of His hand in my own life that combined with this sense of awe in who I am in what He has created that He would not only pay close attention to me and my needs but also direct and guide my life according to His great plan for His Kingdom. Just think about that for a second…we matter to a Magnificent God. One more thing, the way the Jewish text is written, and the words used in scripture essentially denote us a something closer to God than anything else in His creation order. We are created in His image; we reflect and represent God more than any other creature.

God is glorious, and humanity, as created in the image of God, reflects that glory. It is a derivative glory, analogous to the way in which the moon reflects the light of the sun.

Longman III – Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms

Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
and is pregnant with mischief
and gives birth to lies.
  He makes a pit, digging it out,
and falls into the hole that he has made.
  His mischief returns upon his own head,
and on his own skull his violence descends.
  I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Psalms 7:14-17 [ESV]

Following on the passage from yesterday, the Psalmist is talking about how a wicked man brings about his own pain. In our small view of the world, we may never know of see the pain this wicked man receives. So dire is the state of this man that just before it talks about how God readies His weapons and takes aim.

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
he has bent and readied his bow;
he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
making his arrows fiery shafts.

Psalms 7:12-13

This man needs the grace and salvation of the Great Redeemer, or his doom is sealed. I spoke yesterday about loving enemies, and I feel compassion for this person who does not realize the ruin he has brought upon himself. He foolishly thinks he can shape his own fate. I wish he would repent of his wickedness and embrace the only source of redemption he has.

Lastly the passage ends with “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” It is God’s righteousness and grace that has saved me from the same fate…in my sin I was in no different place than this poor soul. The ONLY praise I will sing will be to the One Who has plucked me from my own disaster.

Psalms 7:9-11 [ESV]
Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous—
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God!
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.

One thing I feel almost every day is an anger toward those who are conceived of evil and peddle wickedness. I am guilty of bitterness and frustration with the ways of the society and culture…and today I am convicted by this passage; taking too much ownership of passing judgement and finding guilt in others.

What the Psalmist says here is that God alone is the One who tests the mind and hearts of everyone: a righteous Judge who feels indignation every day. Why do I need to spend any time doing this (judging and feeling indignation) when the Righteous God of the universe is doing this every day? I am saved and my shield is with the Most Just God in Heaven Who provides the protection I need to withstand the evil ways of this world.

The important sentence here is “[God] saves the upright in heart”. Is my heart upright if I am constantly taking on a passing of judgement and guilt on those hearts and minds I am not able to see? No -> God calls me to Love my enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 [ESV]

Psalms 6:8-10 [ESV]
Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my plea;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

As you can probably tell, I am rolling through Psalms next. I am excited about this deep study of this amazing book of lament, assurance, and praise. This passage today hits as I return to work tomorrow after being off for several weeks to recoup and spend much needed time with family, rest, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. This new year brings newness across all spectrums, but I can confidently walk forward because of my Faith in God alone. Most people make New Year’s resolutions or goals but for me I simply seek to deepen my relationship with God and make more and more about what I do in every moment in life more and more aligned with God’s Kingdom work…that starts with me.

Now this passage talks about enemies but I really don’t have any. I do have adversaries in my work life who I know the Lord has placed in my life to teach me how to ‘love’ more like He loves. Weeping, pleas, and prayer are the things David tells us God accepts from him. I can learn from this because weeping denotes transparency, pleas point to dependence, and prayer points to closeness in communication. When all of these are in effect, my adversaries only have the LORD to fear, and I can trust that the LORD’s timing is the one that matters, not mine.

So looking forward to what is ahead, even the trials I know I will face. For now, I am dwelling on the special moments I have had with my family and the blessings God has given me in food, shelter, clothing, and relationships I do not deserve.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
  For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield. Psalms 5:11-12 [ESV]

Since my last post on the 17th of this month, I have taken little break from any distractions that could take me away from time with the family. This time of year is definitely busy as it is likely for most; however, it is one of my most prized times as it is full of gratitude and rejoicing at the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Who has brought the most important gift to all of us. I will be back into a better swing of consistency with these posts starting in the New Year but for now I will leave you with my memory verses for this week. I hope they bless you as much as they have me.