We all remember the first words from Psalm 22:
My, God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Jesus cries out on the cross. But, what we don’t often realize is he is remembering a psalm he must have sung countless times, and the end is glorious. Testifying to the greatness of God to countless generations, the last words speak of completion and triumph.
Psalm 22:31
They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Yes, he has…
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
To perceive God in the natural world you have to seek him and you have to want to discover him. God can’t be too obvious or else we can forget free will and, like us, God generally doesn’t show up where he’s not wanted…
Has someone had an impact in your life that they might not even remember? But it was significant for you?
God works like that, too. Where you don’t expect him…
Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye…
Those who are precious to God are called the ‘apple of his eye’ in four different places in the Bible. Why this term?
Traced to its root, it appears to be related to the pupil of the eye. In other words,
Always have your eyes on me, God.
Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
The Hebrew word for “fool,” nabal, isn’t about intelligence, as much as it is moral deficiency. Here’s the thing.
God must be hidden enough that we can hide from him. If God is too obvious, then we really don’t have a choice to be in relationship. No free will. We wouldn’t be human the way god designed us.
Psalm 12:5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
When we think about poverty, rightfully, our hearts go out especially to children. This is understandable. Yet, there is also a sub group that is in poverty and, at times, overlooked. The elderly.
In my state, California, 20% of the elderly live in poverty. And the elderly are quite susceptible to scams and purchasing services they don’t need in confusion. Thieves prey on our elders, especially in this information age. This brings added suffering for those who are in poverty already.
Lord, protect our elders from those who would malign them, as you have spoken.
Amen
The family of Jesus thought he was out of his mind. How about your family? For that matter, who is your family?
Jesus brings a new perspective…
Mark 3:20-35
Psalm 11:4-5
The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous…
Why is God watching those who are living in his ways? The righteous? The end of Psalm 11 gives the answer:
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
When you follow God’s ways, he’s with you. You will know this.
