Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 50-57

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (MPG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟘:𝟚𝟙, 𝟚𝟛

v21. “...you thought that I was one like yourself....”

1st Psalm of Asaph. And the only Psalm of Asaph outside Book III

God is not like us; nor are we like God. God is different from us. Just because we tolerate one another's sin or we are insensitive to sin, and just because we claim to profess faith in God doesn't mean that it's okay to live like that. God will unleash His discipline in a due time. Nothing escapes from Him.

BTW, years ago some of my friends invited me for a high school reunion, and they treated me thinking I was like them. Well, I was always way different from them. I refused to do what they did. And I've never accepted their invitation anymore. Blessed is a man who doesn't sit in the seat of scoffers. I'm sure, you have had such an experience as well.

The worst thing that can be said of "once a good man" is "Have you become like us?" (Isaiah 14:10). Recently, when a Hillsong pastor was disgraced, Joe Rogan, a famous podcaster commented "He's no more virtuous than anyone. He is just like anyone of us"

BTW, we don't want to be like the rest of the people. We are commanded by our Lord to not be like the world, to not be conformed to the world.

BTW, even in worldly things, we want to be somebody, right? Like an IAS officer, not just as a commoner. Is that good or bad, well, that, you know 🙂😎

v23. "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me"

Live differently: Live a life of gratefulness to God. If we are grateful to God, it will make us kind and gracious to everyone around us as well, yeah, even to customer care people!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟙:𝟙𝟟

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

This Psalm has some great verses having great theological truth.

But for tonight, instead of sharing my top 2 favorite verses of this Psalm, let me share my third favorite one. 😀 If you can guess the top 2 verses here, you are great! 😎

What's pleasing to God is an offering of a broken and contrite spirit. Hallelujah! We have nothing to offer God. He owned everything. What we only have is sin! And God wants it to be offered to Him that He can [may] wash us clean.

He wants us to acknowledge our sins, hate them, be sorrowful over them, and ask for His mercy and grace! That's the life God wants man to live.

To speak bluntly, God is our dustbin of sin, huh! We dump all our sins on Him. That's all we have, and we really don't like what we have. There's nowhere to throw off either. Only God willingly and lovingly offers to take away our sins.

We do that with a broken heart followed by a thankful heart (Psalm 50:23), the last verse of the preceding psalm!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟚:𝟠

"But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever."

The contrast between the wicked and the righteous. Saul and Doeg meant evil against David. They thought David will wither like the grass, be blown away like chaff. But David trusted in God that he was like a lively strong green olive tree.

Learn to be confident when enemies, troubles, and problems threaten you. Don't be intimidated. Not "I can do this" But "God shall help me"

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟝𝟛:𝟙

"The wicked fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’

They act corruptly, and commit abominable injustice;

There is no one who does good.”

Psalm 14 and 53 are very much similar. But there's a difference as well!

This fool is nothing to do with his intellect. He could be a doctor, a scientist, or a philosopher. This fool is everything to do with his morals. He doesn't want to submit to God. He is his own god. He knows God exists. Everyone knows BTW. But he says to his own heart (deceives himself) that there's no God. So that he can do whatever is right in his own eyes.

Sometimes, I think it's good and right in my eyes to steal food from the rich. Sometimes, it looks right to just kill some politicians. Sometimes, I think, it's good to beat up some women😅 You see, we can't afford to live by what we think is right. We live by God's standard.

This wicked fool denies God to do wicked things, like corruption, and injustices. But they won't say that. They will redefine them. Now, abortion is pro-choice. Bribery is buying jobs. Skipping church is loving one another to prevent infection.

These are intelligent people, but morally foolish. Wicked fool.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟜:𝟞

"With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You;

I will give thanks to Your name, O Yahweh, for it is good."

David wanted his prayers to be answered so that he may enjoy God always. He loved to thank God, praise God, sing songs unto God, bless God, and talk about God.

In trouble, in suffering, in pain, in affliction, it's not easy for anyone to do these things unto God. So, David's life is a life that demonstrates a life walking with God always!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟝:𝟚𝟚

"Cast your burden upon Yahweh and He will sustain you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

If anyone betrays you, this is the Psalm to read! And the solution David has is in this verse: to cast your burden upon God.

There's a hymn "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares you" taken out from this verse. Our Lord himself was betrayed by the one who shared His meal. Don't be surprised if there's betrayal in life. God will take care of all. Judas' betrayal was actually bringing Salvation to all. Ahithophel's betrayal against David came to nothing; God let him and Absalom perish!

"Take it to the Lord in prayer," says a line from that sweet hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus"

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟞:𝟛

"When I am afraid,

I will trust in You."

When we are afraid what do we do? David decided to trust God. Look at the word "will," he chose to trust God. We see that in David when his soldiers were wanting to stone him to death, he strengthened himself in God. Forget about your emotion. Use your brain, mind: to trust God!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟝𝟟:𝟡

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations."

David was asking for mercy and deliverance from Saul and his men because he had been forced into a difficult situation. He prayed but not without praises and thanks. Would we be thankful always like David?