9:18 But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

God is a God of justice. Everything will be fair at some point. In the meantime, we take active compassion for those in need. Why?

We love who God loves.

Read Luke 16:19-31

8:6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority…

People are to care for creation as God cares. Everything. We are management working for corporate headquarters. The Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and CEO are one and the same: God the Father. How is it going?

We make progress when we realize we are responsible and trustworthy. When you love God you love everything he loves.

How have you loved God’s creation lately?

PS 7:6 Arise, O Lord, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice!

King David wrote most of the Psalms. Here we see him perturbed by, what looks to him, God’s lack of attention to the plight of his people. Of course we know that God has his way of doing things. It doesn’t stop David from getting some sarcasm, though.

‘Hey, big guy, wake up!’

What would it be like to have that close of a relationship to God that you can speak to him like a friend? You are, you know.

Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to believe that it is helpless in a particular situation. It has come to believe that it has no control over its situation and that whatever it does is futile. As a result, the human being or the animal will stay passive in the face of an unpleasant, harmful or damaging situation, even when it does actually have the power to change its circumstances.  (Wikipedia.com)

Now read this.

Interesting…

PS 6:4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.

Here is the cry of God’s people. The story of the Bible is a story of rescue with restoration just around the corner. Restoration never comes. God’s people always turn in on themselves, away from God, after they are rescued.

Then comes Jesus. Restoration is here.

When are times in the Bible when God’s people cry out and are rescued?

PS 5:5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
 for you hate all who do evil.

It appears that God doesn’t only hate sin, he hates those who do evil. In the context of this verse, I understand. Someone who takes pride in going against the completely just and completely pure God and his ways on purpose- I don’t even want to think of what that means. I just know I need God for me and not against me. I am driven to his mercy when I look inside myself.

“Evil is just culturally conditioned. Who’s to say what is good and what is evil? There is no such thing.” When you hear someone say something like that, what do you think?

PS  4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

What was I thinking as a young child as I was saying that nighttime prayer? What were you thinking if you said that prayer?

“Good night mom, if I don’t croak I will be seeing you tomorrow morning.”

All I know is if God has my soul in his hands, I am ready for anything. Even a good nights sleep.

If you are having trouble sleeping, try thanking God for filling you with peace and expect it to happen.

I talked about my friend Nick who graduated from The King’s Seminary last Sunday. I also have a friend, Brian Cashman, who graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies.

PS 3:6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.

Either this guy is naïve, Jett Li or River Tam, or he/she knows something we all do well to learn.

‘When God is for me, who is against me?’

Where do you need courage in your life today?

PS 2:4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
  The Lord scoffs at them.

When people start thinking they can do anything they want that is evil, God has an attitude. He doesn’t feel threatened. He doesn’t get frustrated. Who knew God has a bit of sarcastic stand up comic in him?

Pray to be the type of person who doesn’t get God to laugh like this.