Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 7-12

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

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟟:𝟛-𝟝

"O Yahweh my God, if I have done this,

  If there is injustice in my hands,

If I have rewarded evil to him who is at peace with me,

  Or have plundered my adversary without cause,

Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;

  And let him trample my life down to the ground

And cause my glory to dwell in the dust. Selah."

To many Christians (including me), Psalm 7 is known for verse 11 that "God is a just judge and God is angry with the wicked every day," however, v3-5 is equally intriguing.

We have many sins to confess, yet David, here, is not confessing any of his sins. Rather, he is asking God to punish him if there be any unrepentant wickedness in his life (cf. v12). He is absolutely sure of his integrity! Wow!

Biblical Prayers are often quite dangerous for casual professors. For instance, the "Lord's Prayer." When we pray that, we are asking God to not forgive us if we don't forgive others. If we forgive little, we are asking God to forgive us little. Also, we are praying for God to take care of us only for today, yet many often think that's for tomorrow and the future as well!

To be a person of integrity to be able to speak like David, and also to be able to profess (recite) Lord's Prayer truly is more than great!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠:𝟛

"When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

  The moon and the stars, which You have established"

I do not have the brain of an astrophysicist nor do I have an imagination like that of Isaac Asimov, yet even a common man like me has been shown the majesty of God when one looks up into the sky.

How tiny is our world, earth, and how vast is the universe! And God chose earthlings to be His people above all things of all the planets and galaxies! Without God's choosing, we are not worth than gold or anything. So, people killed one another for this and that.

The earth may not be (actually is not) the center of the solar system or the galaxy or the universe geographically, but definitely, it is the center of God's attention. And man is the only creature of God that God has highly exalted to salvation!

When the galaxies and the animals and trees and everything praise God for His majesty, we who are above and beyond blessed ought to praise His name!

Praise Yah!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟡:𝟙𝟘

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,

  For You, O Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek You."

All good things are limited. Olympic medals are given to only the best 3. Precious stones are very rare to find. And you marry only one spouse (the best of existence) 🙂

No surprise, God's greatest gift is limited. God's love is limited. God's protection is limited. God's goodness is not unconditional, not universal but conditional!

Read this verse again!

Not everyone puts their trust in God. Not everyone calls on the name of God. Only 2 billion humans profess to be Christian. Even among 2 billion, not many call on the name of God. Only those who know "His name" put their trust in God.

And not everyone is protected. Read the verse again! Only those who seek God will not be forsaken. When I was a child, I wish I find a diamond or a lost bundle of money. I sought but never found it. Perhaps if I go to Golconda, Jwaneng, Aikhal, I will realize my childhood dream! Do we seek God? God often hid Himself from Israelites until they earnestly sought Him (Isaiah 8:17).

BTW, Theologians (particularly RC Sproul) distinguish the three different categories of God's love: God's love of Benevolence, God's love of Beneficence, and God's love of Complacency. The first two, God's love of benevolence and beneficence is universal and unconditional, which is expressed in v7-8; but the third one, God's love of complacency is limited only to believers, those who know Him and seek Him v9-10.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟟       

"O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble;

  You will strengthen their heart, You will cause Your ear to give heed."

This psalmist lives in this world and sees what's going on, and is in despair. The wicked are prospering. The powerful are corrupt. The leaders are unjust, ungodly, and unrighteous. Where is the fear of God in them? There is no God for them.

However, the psalmist being a believer contemplates the attributes of God and sees that no matter what, the wicked will perish, and the righteous (humbled ones) will be preserved by God.

He lived by sight and complained; and then after contemplation, he lived by faith!

Indeed, this world is full of horrible things. Yet, those who live by faith will see the sufficiency of God's grace in all things!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟙:𝟛

"If the foundations are destroyed,

  What can the righteous do?”

v1b-3 is obviously a counsel to David by his friends. It's to retreat, resign, give up, run away, look for an exit, escape from the trouble!

The foundation is destroyed. It's about to crumble, collapse. It's sinking. Perhaps David was told how God told Lot to escape to the mountains before the destruction of Sodom.

David's response reflects the confidence he has in God. Though the foundations be destroyed, though the world and everything in it be out of wheel, God is still on the wheel! He is in complete control. David would not escape, run away, but endure, not in fear or dismay, but in hope and assurance!

In response to the question, Spurgeon replied, "We can suffer joyfully, hope cheerfully, wait patiently, pray earnestly, believe confidently, and triumph finally."

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟚:𝟙

"Save, O Yahweh, for the holy man ceases to be,

  For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."

This verse (verse 1) is a serious lamentation.  And how sad it is!

But the Psalmist in the following verses reveals what are the threats that he prayed to be saved from and the means to be saved from, which I am not interested to reflect upon for now.

The thought "few good men" comes to my mind. Jesus asked, "When the Son of Man returns, how many will He find people on the earth who have faith?"

In the last 2 years, churches have become catacombs. No muscle only dry bones. No fear of God only fear of a coronavirus. No baptistry only cemetery.

Actually, God is a greater threat than anything. He not only kills but damns! If the love of God does not motivate people, the threat of God will. See, the fear of a virus is more effective than the love of healthy life.

Back to Psalm. There are only a few godly people. Actually, the psalmist says they cease to exist, which is a hyperbolic expression (exaggeration) to convey there are very few left. Also implying they had more in the past!