Category: Psalm64-

Categories
Psalm64-

Keeping our perspective

Psalms

I wrote briefly on Psalm 90 a while back, but after rereading it, I’ve decided to come back to it and add to my comments.

In this psalm, we see the mortality of people in contrast to the eternal nature of God.

I love the first verse.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations. (Psalm 90:1)

Right from the beginning, we see God’s eternal nature. That though generations come and go, he was, he is, and he ever will be. And just as he was a shelter for those who came before us, he is a shelter for us now and ever will be so.

The same God who watched over Abraham, Isaac, Jacob watches over us now. The same God who walked with Peter, John, and James, walks with us now.

He was here before they were ever born, and even before time began. As Moses put it,

Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (2)

In contrast, our lives are but a breath. Moses wrote,

You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered. (3–6)

It’s hard to fathom. If I live out a full lifespan, I’ve probably reached the halfway point of my life.

I’ve experienced a lot of things. A lot of joys. A lot of sorrows. A lot of hurt. A lot of healing. A lot of victories. A lot of failures.

Yet all of it is but a drop in the ocean. A mere pin prick on history’s timeline. And not even that in the face of eternity.

Yet for the time that God has given to us to live on this earth, he will hold us accountable. Life, as short as it is, is a gift. And so the question is, how are we living it?

So many people live for the pleasures of this world, indulging in lives of sin. But Moses wrote,

You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence. (8)

In other words, God sees our sin and he will judge us for it. We may think no one sees, and we may even get away with it for a while. But everything will be brought to light eventually, and be judged. So Moses writes,

If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. (11)

We often talk about God’s love, but it’s good to remember the fear of the Lord as well. That God hates sin, and will not leave it unpunished.

I’m not saying that we ought to live in fear that God is ready to strike us with a lightning bolt for every sin we commit.

But we shouldn’t become so callous to sin that we think he doesn’t care. We need to remember that while God is a God of love, he is a holy God as well, and he calls us to be holy too.

So Moses prayed,

Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (12)

Let us remember where true joy comes from in life, singing as Moses did,

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (14)

And let us commit every second of every day to him, praying,

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands. (17)

Amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

The God who never fails

Psalms

After such a depressing psalm in Psalm 88, Psalm 89 starts off on a much brighter note. Nevertheless, it too was also written in a time of trouble.

The psalmist starts by singing,

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. (Psalm 89:1–2)

He then remembers the Lord’s greatness, singing,

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?

Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty,
and your faithfulness surrounds you. (5–8)

He goes on to sing about the joy of those who follow him (15–17) and remembers God’s promises to David that he would establish his line forever as kings in Israel. (3–4, 19–37)

But then we have a sudden change of tone.

Right after he talks about all these things, he talks about how all of these things seemed to have failed. That God had rejected and turned his back on the descendants of David and on Israel because of their sins.

So the psalmist cries out,

How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire…

Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David? (46, 49)

But though things seemed bleak, God had never changed. He eventually brought back the Israelites to their land, not just once, but twice. And one day, Jesus will take the throne, fulfilling the word God gave David thousands of years ago.

Let us never forget that though we can’t always see it, God’s love and faithfulness toward us never changes. When he makes a promise he will keep it.

He proved it to the Israelites in the past. He will prove it again in the future. And he will prove it to us as well, if we’ll just keep putting our trust in him.

So let us sing as the psalmist did,

Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen. (52)

Categories
Psalm64-

God’s silence

Psalms

Psalm 88 could almost have been written by Job. This is yet another psalm that deals with God’s silence in our suffering. And as in real life, we don’t always see a happy ending.

The psalmist starts by basically crying out, “Hear me O God. Are you there? I’m overwhelmed with my troubles. I’m sick and dying. I have no strength left.” (Psalm 88:1–5)

He then complains that God would let this happen to him.

Again and again, he says, “You did this.” “You did that.”

“You put me down in the pits. You cover me with your wrath. You’ve taken away all those who are close to me and they now reject me.” (6–8)

He then concludes by saying, “I’m calling to you Lord. Why do you hide from me? Why do you reject me? I’ve been suffering all my life. I’ve been left alone, and darkness is my closest friend.” (13–18)

There the psalm ends. There are no words of hope. No words of comfort.

But isn’t that how we feel sometimes? If that’s how you’re feeling, know that you’re not alone. The psalmist felt that way. Most, if not every Christian, have gone through those feelings some time in their lives.

Some have given up and never found their way out of that pit. But don’t be like those who give up.

The thing to remember above all is this: Never base your faith on your feelings. Base it upon God’s character and his Word.

Your feelings waver. They are never stable. And because of that, they are not a trustworthy foundation to build your foundation upon.

Satan knows this, and he will try all he can during the times of God’s silence to bring you to despair. To rob you of your faith.

But while our feelings are constantly changing, God and his Word never do. His promises are words you can stand upon.

So when you’re feeling down, when you’re feeling discouraged, put your faith not in your feelings, but in God and his promises.

If you do, no matter how dark the tunnel you’re going through, you will see the other side.

Categories
Psalm64-

The people of God

Psalms

Psalm 87 is talking about Jerusalem, but as I read it, I really see the love God has for his people, and how he rejoices over us.

The psalmist says of Jerusalem,

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you,
city of God. (Psalm 87:1–3)

I suppose the question is why does God have such love for the city?

I think the answer is found not in the physical structure of the city itself, but of the people who lived there. Namely, the people that God had chosen for his own.

And because of his great love for his people, he established this city for them, and made it a place of renown.

He then talks about how even those who had been enemies of Jerusalem, even the ancient ones such as Egypt (Rahab, as mentioned in this psalm), Babylon, and Philistia would come to acknowledge God because of her.

And people would be proud to say, “This person was born in Zion. And that one too.” Not only that, God himself would write their names in his register.

I can’t help but think that this is a picture of God’s intention for his church here on earth.

We know, of course, that the church is not simply a building. The church is God’s people, and as God poured out his love over Jerusalem, he now pours his love over us.

And he desires us to make a difference in those around us. That even those who hate us because of Christ, would come to know him through us.

That when we all reach the new Jerusalem, God can point to his book, and say, “This one was born here in the church I established. And this one. And this one.”

Somehow as I read these words, I detect a sense of pride as he proclaims each name.

And after God’s roll call, every one of us will sing and cry out to him, “All my fountains are in you.” (7)

That is, “Lord, you are the source of life, love, and joy in my life.”

You and I, as God’s church, are the people of God. God loves us and rejoices over us.

But let us make it our goal to bring in as many people to his kingdom as we can. Let us be that beautiful city on the hill that cannot be hidden.

Categories
Psalm64-

Guarding our hearts in times of trouble

Psalms

Solomon once wrote “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

This is always true, of course, but especially in times of trouble. And Solomon’s father David certainly had his share of it.

Yet in his times of trouble, we can see why God called him a man after his own heart.

He starts out the psalm by crying out for God’s help. And in doing so, we see where he placed his trust. Not in his own wisdom and strength to get him through his problems.

Rather, he said,

I put my trust in you. (Psalm 86:4)

Then he turns his thoughts to the nature of the God in whom he trusted. He prayed,

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.

When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me. (5–7)

In other words, “In spite of my problems, I know that you care for me. And that you are good. What’s more, I believe you will answer me when I call.”

I suppose as Christians, we should all believe these things, but when we’re facing trials, it’s easy for doubt to creep into our hearts. But despite his problems, David held fast to these truths.

He then focused on the greatness of God. On how God was so much greater than his problems. He sang,

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God. (8–10)

After focusing on God’s greatness, David turned to his own heart. And he prayed,

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name. (11)

The new NIV (which to be honest, I don’t particularly care for — bring back version ’84, Zondervan!) puts it,

Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness.

I think this verse is so important as we face trials in our lives. Life’s problems can tend to cause our hearts to fray and unravel.

But David prays in the midst of trial, “Lord, teach me your way. Give me a heart that’s undivided. A heart that’s united (NASB) in its desire to follow you. May I walk in your truth and trust in your faithfulness in spite of all I’m going through.”

That’s the attitude we need to have too. To never lose focus or trust in God. But to have a heart that’s totally united in its desire to follow him.

Let us be like David, constantly focusing on God and his goodness and his faithfulness toward us, even in times of trouble. Like him, let’s continue praising him singing,

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me. (12–13)

Categories
Psalm64-

Repentance and mercy

Psalms

It’s not certain when Psalm 85 was written. Charles Spurgeon seems to have thought it was written by David, but I tend to agree with the scholars who say it was written after the Babylonian captivity.

The psalmist writes,

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.

You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger. (Psalm 85:1–3)

This could easily refer to God’s restoration of the people to the promised land after the 70 years of exile had passed. And yet, it seems it was still a time of trouble. The psalmist continues by pleading,

Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.

Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation. (4–7)

Perhaps this was in reference to the fact that despite their return to the land, all was not yet well in Jerusalem. The walls were destroyed, and raiders often came in to wreak havoc among the people. (Nehemiah 1:1–3)

And so the psalmist prays for God’s mercy in the situation. But then he says something important. He said,

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land. (8–9)

So often we pray for mercy, but it would be well to remember that peace only comes to those who repent.

We cannot ask for God’s mercy if we’re willfully turning our backs on him and returning to the sin that destroyed us in the first place.

This is not to say that God will wait until we are completely sinless before he shows us mercy. But he does want our hearts. He wants to know that we are taking steps in his direction, rather than continuing on our old path.

We may fall, but as long as we’re going in the right direction, he will help us up and keep leading us on.

And as we follow him, we’ll find blessing.

As the psalmist wrote,

The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.

Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps. (12–13)

I like how the New King James puts the last verse.

Righteousness will go before Him,
and shall make His footsteps our pathway.

How about you? Are you walking along the pathway of repentance?

Categories
Psalm64-

Setting our sights

Pilgrimage

Psalm 84 is one of the most beautiful psalms, in my opinion, and one of my favorites. And it’s one in which we are encouraged to set our sights, not on the things of this earth, but on eternity.

It was a song that was used to describe the joy of people making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship God, but I think it equally applies to our pilgrimage to the New Jerusalem.

The psalmist starts by singing,

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (Psalm 84:1–2)

I love the old chorus based on this psalm that puts it this way, “There’s a hunger deep inside my soul.”

I have to say that this is where I want to be in my walk with God. Hungering and thirsting after him.

I have to admit, though, that I’ve been feeling kind of dry, spiritually. And so I’m praying, “Lord, I yearn for you. I want more of you in my life. I long to be in your presence once again.”

I think that these are the sentiments the psalmist is expressing here.

I love the picture the psalmist gives next of the sparrow finding a home near God’s altar.

It makes me think of Jesus’ words of how much more valuable we are to God than the sparrows. If he welcomes them into his presence, how much more does he welcome us?

He then expresses the joy of worship, singing,

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you. (4)

But after singing this, he turns his thoughts from rejoicing in the house of God to the journey to get there. And he sings,

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (5)

Two things strike me here. The pilgrims set their hearts on the place they were heading for, not on the place they were at.

We are to do the same as Christians. This world is not our home. And we should be setting our hearts on where our true home is.

But as we set out on that journey, we do so not in our own strength, but in God’s. We don’t have the power to make it on our own. We need Him.

In verse 6, it says,

As they pass through the Valley of Baka (or the “valley of tears”),
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

Through this life, we go through our valleys of tears. We experience hurt and loss. Yet God turns them into a place of springs. He covers them with the pools of his grace that act as a balm to our wounds.

As a result,

They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion. (7)

As Isaiah wrote,

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

So the psalmist cries out to God and prays,

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.

Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one. (Psalm 84:8–9)

While it refers to God’s favor upon the king, for us as Christians, it refers to God’s favor upon his Son, who is our shield in this life.

He then closes with the blessings and joy of those who worship, singing,

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you. (10–12)

We are mere pilgrims in this life. The things of this world are mere shadows of the glory that lies ahead. So let us set our sights not on this world, but on God.

Where are you setting your sights?

Categories
Psalm64-

Deliver us from evil

Psalms

When I look at Psalm 83, it reminds me of our Lord’s prayer, when he told us to pray, “Deliver us from evil.”

In this psalm, Israel was facing some really big threats by the surrounding nations. And so the psalmist cries out,

O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.

See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.

With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.

“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:1–4)

He then lists the nations that were coming against them and called to mind how God had delivered them in the past. And after asking for deliverance, he prays,

Let them (our enemies) know that you, whose name is the Lord—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. (18)

We may not have nations coming against us, but we do have enemies that would bring us down.

Paul tells us in Ephesians that there are spiritual forces out there that are hostile to us. And sometimes they will even use people to attack us, whether it’s physically, verbally, or emotionally.

But the thing we need to remember is that God is most high over all the earth. He is in control of all things.

So when we feel under attack, let us turn to him. Even if we’re not under attack at the moment, it would be wise to pray for his protection anyway. As long as we are following him, we won’t be left alone for long.

And after all, if Jesus felt that it was important for us to pray for his protection, we’d be wise to take him at his word.

Categories
Psalm64-

When the judges will be judged

Psalms

I think a lot of us get frustrated by the injustices we see in our courts. People we know are guilty get set free, and the people they hurt are left even more wounded.

It’s not a new problem. It was happening back in Bible times as well. And God here pronounces judgment against them.

Just a brief note. It’s very clear from the context that when it says he presides among the gods, that it’s used in a very ironic tone. He calls these judges “gods” because they had the power and authority to pass judgment as God does.

It by no means can be interpreted (as the Mormons would claim) that men can become gods. Note in verse 6, that it says to them, “You are gods” not “You will be gods.” Even Mormons will not claim they are gods now.

Moreover, in the very next verse, he says, “I said you are gods, but you will die like mere men,” because they were mere men, and corrupt ones at that.

Why was God bringing judgment upon them?

The answer is found in verses 2–4.

“How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:2–4)

He then says of them,

The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness. (5)

The psalmist concludes by singing,

Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance. (8)

So let us not get discouraged when we see the injustice that’s in the world.

The time will come when the wicked, and the judges that set them free will be called to account. Though they may be unjust, God is not.

And he will bring judgment on the last day.

Categories
Psalm64-

If only…

Psalms

In Psalm 81, the psalmist begins with a call to worship, singing,

Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
play the melodious harp and lyre. (Psalm 81:1–2)

The occasion of the singing? The feasts that God had commanded under Moses, namely, perhaps, the Passover which celebrated their delivery from Egypt, or the Feast of Tabernacles which celebrated God’s leading them through the desert.

Why did God command these feasts? So that they would never forget him and what he had done for them. The psalmist remembers these things, singing,

I heard an unknown voice say:

“I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (5–7)

In this psalm, however, we hear the cry of God’s heart. He tells the people,

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!

You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. (8–10)

And again,

If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes…

you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (13–14, 16)

God pleads with the people, “If only you would just listen, I would bless you. I would supply all your needs and fight for you in the battles you face.”

But then he said,

But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices. (11–12)

God wants to bless us. He wants to do great things in our lives, but he will not force us. If we want to go our own way, he will let us. But when we choose to go our own way, it not only brings sadness into our lives, but into the heart of God.

So what will you do? Will you open your ears to him and do what he says so that he can bless you? Or will you follow the stubbornness of your heart, going to the destruction to which it leads?

It’s your choice.

Categories
Psalm64-

The consequences of sin

Psalms

These two psalms seemed linked, so I’m putting them together. Both apparently happened after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, and are very similar in tone to Lamentations.

Psalm 79 opens with this lament:

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.

They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead. (Psalm 79:1–3)

Then the psalmist cries out in verse 5,

How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

In Psalm 80, the cry is similar,

How much longer, LORD God Almighty,
will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

You have given us sorrow to eat,
a large cup of tears to drink. (Psalm 80:4–5)

In both psalms, we see the psalmist’s cry for God’s mercy upon the people.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.

Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake. (Psalm 79:8–9)

And again,

Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

And in both psalms, we see vows made.

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise. (Psalm 79:13)

In Psalm 80, the psalmist prays,

Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name. (Psalm 80:17–18)

How much better though, would things have been if the people had been faithful to God all along? To not wait until things were at that state to finally turn to him?

God is a God of mercy. That is true. He will forgive. But there are consequences to our sin here on earth.

So let us not wait until disaster strikes to turn our faces to God, as the Israelites did time and again.

Let us turn our faces to him now and seek him so that we may avoid the pain and hurt that comes because of our sin.

Categories
Psalm64-

Telling the next generation

Psalms

For my daughter’s last birthday, we bought her a children’s Bible. What’s nice is that it’s in English and Japanese, so my wife reads to her in Japanese, and I read to her in English.

It’s our hope that through these stories, she can come to not just know about God, but to truly know him.

That’s what the psalmist is trying to do in this psalm. To pass on to the next generation what he knew about God.

He says,

My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.

We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done. (Psalm 78:1–4)

He then reminds the people that God himself commanded us to do this for our children. The reason for this command?

So the next generation would know them (God’s deeds and his laws), even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. (6–7)

Asaph starts by talking about the deeds of God, how he delivered them out of Egypt and led them through the desert, providing for their every need. How he provided bread, water, and meat in the desert when there was none to be found.

He then talks about how God led them into the promised land and drove out all their enemies before them.

But then he talked about all the failures of the people. How they failed to trust him. How they complained in the desert. How they turned to idols in the land God gave to them, and how they suffered judgment because of it.

Finally he reminds them of God’s grace and mercy through all their failures. He sings,

Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.

Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.

He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return. (38–39)

And he reminds them of how in his grace, God defeated their enemies once again and set up David to rule over them in justice.

These are the kinds of things we are to teach our children. To the people who come after us.

  • Teach them about how God saved us from our sin, and all the things he has done for us in our lives.
  • Teach them about our failures, and the consequences that came from them. Why? So that they don’t have to repeat our mistakes.
  • Teach them about God’s grace and mercy. That though we failed, God never gave up on us but forgave us and delivered us.
  • Teach them that God has a plan for them. Just as he took David from the humble position of shepherd, and turned him into the shepherd of God’s people, God can take their lives and turn it into something special too.

Let us not neglect to tell our children these things that they may know him too.

Categories
Psalm64-

Abandoned?

Psalms

One thing I’ve noticed about the psalms as I’ve been going through them is that a lot of the themes seem to be similar.

Particularly, the struggles people have when dealing with an invisible God. It’s kind of comforting, actually.

Psalm 77 is no different. The psalmist starts out by crying out,

I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted. (Psalm 77:1–2)

How often do we do the same? We cry out to God, and yet hear…nothing. And because of our troubled hearts, we can’t sleep. Instead, we start asking as the psalmist did,

“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” (7–9)

In short, have you abandoned me? Have you given up on me? Do you consider me a lost cause?

But in the midst of his despair, he cries out,

“To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph…

You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (10–15, 20)

In a moment, he thrusts out all thoughts that God has abandoned him.

And he says, “God, I cannot believe you’ve abandoned me. You’ve done too much for me in the past to believe that.

“You cared enough that you redeemed me and my people. And you led us as your sheep through the desert to where we are now.

“Because of all the love you’ve shown to me in the past, I refuse to believe you’ve abandoned me now.”

That’s faith. It’s believing though we can’t see.

Though we can’t see or feel God’s love at a particular moment or time, we believe he still cares.

Though we can’t see or feel God’s presence for a season, we hold on to the belief that he is still there and that he has not abandoned us.

But faith is not completely blind. Because when we look back on our past, we can see the evidence of God’s power and love in our lives.

So when we feel abandoned as the psalmist did, let us look back on God’s goodness in our lives, and know that the God who was with us then, is with us now.

Categories
Psalm64-

The God who will be praised

Psalms

It has been conjectured that Psalm 76 was written after the incident with Sennacherib, during the time of Hezekiah.

Whether this is true or not, I’m not sure, but it does fit with the events laid out in Kings and Chronicles.

And here we see the psalmist praising God for defending Israel against the enemy. He sings,

God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.

There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords,
the weapons of war. (Psalm 76:1–3)

He then sings about how God brought judgment on those who tried to destroy Jerusalem.

One verse is very interesting. It says,

Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise. (10)

It seems a bit unusual to think of God’s wrath bringing him praise. But it’s happened more than once.

When Sennacherib mocked God and his power to save, God brought about the praise of Israel by destroying his army.

When Pharaoh said, “Who is this Yahweh that I should listen to him?” God again caused his name to be praised and feared by his actions against Egypt in order to set the Israelites free.

So I think here there is a warning to take from this, as well as a comfort.

If we place ourselves in God’s hand, he will defend and help us. But if we defy him, there will be judgment. Either way, his name will be honored. As Paul put it,

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10–11)

The only question we need to ask is will we confess this with thanksgiving, love, and praise? Or will we confess this with anger, frustration, and bitterness?

Categories
Psalm64-

When justice finally comes

Psalms

Whenever I look at Psalm 75, I can’t help but sing to myself the old chorus based on this psalm.

We give thanks to thee O Lord, we give thanks.
For thy name is near,
Thy wondrous works men declare.
We give thanks to thee O Lord, we give thanks.

Looking at the whole psalm, however, it’s interesting that I never realized what we were giving thanks for. What wondrous works are we praising?

Ultimately, we’re looking at the time when God brings final judgment on all mankind.

God speaks in this psalm and says,

I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.

When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.

To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.

Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’ (Psalm 75:2–5)

And the rest of the psalm talks about how God will lift up the righteous and bring down the wicked. The psalmist closes by praising God, singing,

As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.” (9–10)

I’ve mentioned before in previous blogs how so often we see the injustice in the world and wonder where God is. Why he doesn’t do anything.

But in this psalm, we see that justice will indeed come.

So let us wait patiently for it and praise God not only that he will bring justice, but that for now he has shown us mercy, waiting so that as many as possible may be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)

Categories
Psalm64-

A cry for mercy

Psalms

It’s not certain when Psalm 74 was written. There are a couple of problems with trying to date it.

First, the notation attributes this psalm to Asaph who lived during the times of David, Solomon, and Rehoboam.

There is nothing to connect the destruction of the temple as mentioned in this psalm to the times he lived in. So it’s most likely that when it says Asaph, it’s referring to his descendants.

I would guess this was written after Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion when the Jews were taken into exile. The main problem with this is that the psalmist writes,

We are given no signs from God;
no prophets are left. (Psalm 74:9)

It’s possible that it meant no prophets in Jerusalem were left. Daniel and Ezekiel were both in Babylon. And while Jeremiah stayed in Jerusalem for a while, he was later carried off to Egypt where he eventually died.

At any rate, this psalm is in essence a cry for mercy. The psalmist starts by lamenting,

O God, why have you rejected us forever?

Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.

Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary. (Psalm 74:1–3)

He then talks about the complete destruction of the temple, and how God was nowhere to be found.

But in verse 12, the psalm turns as he sings,

But God is my King from long ago;
he brings salvation on the earth.

In verses 13–17, he recalls the power of God, how he delivered them from Egypt, and how he created all things.

Finally, he closes the psalm once more with a plea for mercy.

There are some interesting things about this psalm. And in it, I think we can learn some things about God’s mercy.

The main thing is that we don’t receive God’s mercy based on our own merit.

Nowhere in the psalm does it say, “We’ve been good so please show us mercy.”

Rather, he asks for God’s mercy for his own Name’s sake. He says,

How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile your name forever? (10)

In other words, “By allowing these people to destroy your temple and defeat your people, your name has suffered. People no longer hold your name in honor.”

And so he says later,

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.

Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually. (22–23)

The psalmist also asks for God’s mercy based on his promises. At the beginning, he said,

Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt. (2)

He was saying, “You redeemed us and promised to make us your own. You promised to dwell among us. Remember now those promises and help us.”

Finally, he asked for God’s mercy based on his compassion.

He sang,

Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy praise your name. (21)

None of us deserve God’s mercy. But though we fall, God is merciful. So let us never give up hope when God seems to have abandoned us.

Rather let us turn our hearts to him and plead for his mercy.

And just as he delivered the Jews, he will deliver us.

Categories
Psalm64-

Discouraged by the evil we see.

Psalms

It can be discouraging at times to see all the evil that is in this world. To see people who prosper despite having no fear of God at all. People who only look out for themselves and don’t care who they hurt.

And when we see them prospering, it’s easy to start saying, “What’s the point of doing what’s right? What’s the point of following God when I’m struggling, and those who don’t give a rip about God are doing well?”

That’s what Asaph struggled with and Psalm 73 describes his struggle with the evil he saw.

He starts the psalm with his conclusion.

Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart. (Psalm 73:1)

In other words, when all is said and done, God is good. And those who follow him and keep pure hearts before him will see his goodness in their lives.

But then he talks about his struggle, saying,

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (2–3)

And in the next few verses, he talks about how all the wicked people he saw seemed to have no struggles at all. They were healthy and rich, with none of the burdens that most people have.

This despite how proud and violent they were. This despite all the evil that came out of their hearts and mouths, saying,

How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything? (11)

So Asaph cried out,

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.

All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments. (13–14)

But as he came into the presence of God, all of these thoughts melted away like the mist as he realized their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies. (18–20)

In short, their time will come. Their prosperity lasts only a moment compared to eternity, and then all will see just how temporal it all was.

When Asaph realized this, he felt so stupid for envying the wicked and questioning God. But then he said,

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory. (23–24)

The nice thing about God is his patience. That though we sometimes question him and his goodness, he doesn’t give up on us. He continues to stand by us and lead us until the day we see him face to face.

As Asaph realized all this, he sang in praise,

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. (25–28)

Lord, whom have I in heaven but you? Lord, it’s so easy to be jealous of those who do evil, because their lives seem to be so good. But Lord, it is good to be near to you.

Let me never envy the wicked, no matter how good their lives may seem. Instead, Lord, be my desire above all things. Be my strength and portion forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

When Christ reigns

Psalms

Psalm 72 is a song written by Solomon that looks forward to the time when Christ, the great King, reigns.

So often we look at the people ruling or governing our nations, and all we are left with is disappointment.

People that should be looking out for our interests and the interests of the nation only look out for themselves. The only time they look out for others is if they feel that it’s toward their benefit.

But here we see Christ reigning in true righteousness. A king who judges justly and looks out for those who are afflicted and needy. A king who does so because he truly cares about them (Psalm 72:1–4, 12–14).

We also see a king whom under the righteous prosper and will find blessing. I like verse 6 where it says,

May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.

But most of all, I like verse 17 where it says,

Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

One can’t help but think that Solomon had in mind God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 where he said,

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing…
all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:2–3)

In Christ, we will see the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. And so Solomon closes with this benediction:

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.

Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen. (18–19)

Amen. Come soon Lord Jesus.

Categories
Psalm64-

Our hope and confidence

Psalms

Psalm 71 is probably not the most well-known of the Psalms, but the more I read it, the more I like it. It shows the hope and confidence that the psalmist had from knowing God, even during the darkest of times.

He wrote,

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:1–2)

I love verse 5 where he writes,

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.

And as he prays for deliverance from his enemies, he once again sings,

As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more. (14)

In a world where people often lose hope because of what they’re going through, this verse resonates with me: “As for me, I will always have hope.”

Why did he have that hope? We see the answer in verse 20.

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

So many times people get angry with God for the trials they have to endure.

But here, the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s goodness. That though God allowed him to go through many trials, that God would raise him up once again.

And so throughout the psalm we see his heart of praise towards God, as he sings things like,

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God? (19)

And,

My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered. (23)

How about you? In the midst of what you’re going through now, have you lost hope?

Or like the psalmist, are you filled with hope and confidence that God will see you through?

Categories
Psalm64-

Hurry up, God!

Psalms

I debated briefly whether to give Psalm 70 its own blog entry, considering it’s very similar to the latter part of Psalm 40. But I don’t think I really commented much on that part of Psalm 40, so I decided to write a few thoughts here.

The thing that strikes me is how urgently David wants God to answer his prayers. He says,

Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me. (Psalm 70:1)

And again,

Come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay. (5)

It gives me some comfort that David prayed much as I do.

“Hurry up God! Can’t you see my need. I need your help NOW!”

And considering how he was constantly on the run from his enemies, it’s easy to see why he felt things were so urgent.

It’s also comforting to see that though deliverance probably didn’t always come as fast as David wished, it did come.

The same is true with us. God may not always answer as quickly as we’d like. But if the need is there, he will deliver us.

Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Are you feeling God is a bit slow? Or very slow, for that matter?

Don’t be afraid to be honest with God in your prayers. Don’t be afraid to say, “Hurry up!”

But know that though God’s timing is not always our own, he is faithful. He will not let us down in the end.

So let us wait in hope for his answer.

Categories
Psalm64-

The cry of Christ

Psalms

Psalm 69 is largely, though not completely messianic. In it we see many references which are applied to Christ in the New Testament.

We see his suffering on the cross in which he starts sinking into death. He cries out to God, but there is no answer. His eyes are failing, and his throat is completely parched. (Psalm 69:1–3)

He’s completely surrounded by his enemies who hate him for no reason (4) and his own brothers mock and reject him (8).

In Christ’s cleansing of the temple, we see his zeal for his Father’s house (9).

He was scorned, disgraced, and shamed by the people (19), and when he asked for drink, he was given vinegar mixed with gall (21).

And Peter of course uses verse 25 to refer to Judas in Acts 1.

So in this psalm, we see the cry of Christ as he suffered on the cross.

But we also see our salvation. Because through the cross, all of our sins are paid for. And because of the cry of Christ, we can also sing his song of praise.

I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.

The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live! (30–32)

He then closes by singing,

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,
for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.

Then people will settle there and possess it;
the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there. (34–36)

A new Jerusalem is coming. Not only for the Jews but for all who believe in Jesus and his work on the cross and love his name. And there our salvation will find its ultimate fulfillment.

Lord, I thank you for my salvation that you bought with your blood and at great cost.

Lord, though you were innocent, yet you died for me. Lord let me never take that for granted.

May my life to you be praise each day. And everyday let me proclaim through my life and my words what you have done. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

A God of power…and mercy

Psalms

As I read Psalm 68, two things strike me. First, God’s power.

It starts out with a prayer showing God’s power to cast down the enemy.

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.

May you blow them away like smoke—
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God. (Psalm 68:1–2)

Then in talking about how God led the people out of Egypt and into the promised land, it says,

When you, God, went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel. (7–8)

The psalmist then bursts out singing,

Summon your power, God;
show us your strength, our God,
as you have done before. (28)

And again,

Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (34–35)

As I look at all this, the power of God makes me stand in awe.

But in the midst of this psalm, we see something else. God’s mercy.

A father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing. (5–6)

In talking about leading the people to the promised land, it says,

You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, God,
you provided for the poor. (9–10)

But perhaps the verse that I like most is the one that says,

Praise be to the Lord,
to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens. (19)

It is awesome to think of the power of God. That he is in control and that he can truly do anything.

But it is even more awesome to think of his mercy and grace towards us.

That he looks down upon us and that he actually cares for us. That he sees our burdens and takes them upon himself.

That he sees our needs and provides. That he sees our loneliness and gives us his presence. That he sees our captivity and sets us free.

Lord, I thank you that you are a God of power. That you can do all things. But I thank you even more that you care for us and love us.

Lord, may I sense more of your presence in my life. May I see more of your power in my life. Show me your strength as you have done before.

But let me also see more of your mercy. And let me share what you’ve given me with those around me. May they see in me your power and your mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

Blessed that all may know

Psalms

Psalm 67 starts out much as the priestly blessing does in Numbers 6:24–26.

The psalmist writes,

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1)

What’s interesting to me is the reason for his request.

that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations. (2)

So many Christians pray, “Bless me Lord,” for purely selfish reasons.

But the psalmist prays, “Lord, show your grace to us. Bless us. Show your pleasure with us. Because when people see your hand of grace upon us, they’ll see your goodness and desire a relationship with you too. And not only will we know your salvation, but they will too.”

As he looks towards that day, he sings,

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you. (3–5)

And as he sees all the nations turning their hearts toward the Lord, he sees something else: God’s blessing on all who fear him.

Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.

God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him. (6–7)

Lord, show me your grace in my life. Lord, draw me close to yourself, and may your face shine upon me.

And as you do, Lord, let others see you in me and be drawn to you as well. Let your life shine through mine. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

The God who brings us through trial

Psalms

Nobody likes trials. At least, I can’t say I do. But in Psalm 66, we see the rejoicing of God’s people having come through those trials.

The psalmist sings,

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!

Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.

All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.” (Psalm 66:1–4)

He then points out the reasons for his rejoicing. He tells the people,

Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!

He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him. (5–6)

The obvious reference is to God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and how he made a way of escape for them through the Red Sea.

In doing so, he showed his power not only to Israel, but to all the nations. And so the psalmist warns,

He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him. (7)

He then looks back to their time of bondage in Egypt, and perhaps also to their time of wandering in the desert, and as he does, he sees God’s hand in all that happened. He writes,

Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.

For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.

You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance. (8–12)

It’s interesting to me here that he says it is God that brought about their troubles. It was he that brought them into prison and let people rule over them.

This is not to say that God is directly responsible for evil in our lives. Evil is part and parcel of a broken world.

But nothing passes into our lives without passing through the hands of God first. And God sometimes allows evil to come into our lives.

Why? Because he hates us?

No. To refine us. To purge out of our lives all of our pride and sin in order that we might become the pure and holy people that he desires.

But even through the fire, he never takes his hands off of us. Rather, he preserves us and keeps our feet from slipping to destruction. More than that, he will bring us out of our trials victorious.

Having come through the fire, the psalmist then offers his sacrifices of praise to God. But not only that, he shares his experiences with all those who would hear. He sings,

Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.

I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.

Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me! (16–20)

How about you? What trials are you going through now? Know that whatever you may be going through, God still has his hand on you.

So don’t lose heart. Cry out to him. Pour out your heart to him and you will see his deliverance.

And when you do, be sure to let all those around you know what he has done for you.

Categories
Psalm64-

The God who saves us and fills us

Psalms

It’s hard to tell in what situation Psalm 65 was written. It’s possible it was written after a time of famine or drought as a result of God’s judgment, followed by a time of repentance and blessing.

The psalmist starts with praise to God for his mercies. He sings,

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.

You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.

When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple. (Psalm 65:1–4)

Here the psalmist looks back on their sin and God’s judgment. I love verse 3. “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.”

We were overwhelmed and overpowered by our sins. There was no escape for us from the judgment to come. But “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Now he draws us near to himself and he brings blessing in our lives. We no longer live in fear of him. Rather we look upon him in love for his mercy and grace.

And the psalmist looks forward to the day when all will come before God in heaven and rejoice over his great mercy (verse 1).

He then says,

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas (5).

The rest of the psalm looks at God’s power in creation and his sustenance of it through the water he pours down to bless the earth.

But as I read this, I see something else.

I see the most awesome of deeds that our Savior did for us. His death on the cross for our sins. And because he has done so, he truly has become our hope in this dying world.

Now, just as he pours out water from the heavens to bless the earth, he pours out the living water of his Holy Spirit upon us and fills us with Himself each and every day.

Through his Spirit, he brings forth abundant fruit through us as he pours out his grace upon us and all those whom we touch.

Lord, I thank you for your grace that you poured upon me to save me from my sins. That when I was powerless to save myself, you saved me.

Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Let your Spirit overflow in my life that I might bear your fruit and touch those around me.

Thank you for the joy that you pour into my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Psalm64-

No escape

Psalms

One of my all-time favorite shows is “Columbo.” They often show it on “Mystery Channel” here in Japan.

In it, the criminals always think they have devised the perfect crime, only to see it come unraveled thread by thread in the hands of Columbo.

That’s what I think about when I read Psalm 64. David wrote of the wicked,

They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their words like deadly arrows.

They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;
they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see them?”

They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”

Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. (Psalm 64:3–6)

But as with Columbo, God quickly unravels their plots and turns them against themselves.

But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be struck down.

He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

All mankind will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done. (7–9)

Haman found this out in the book of Esther as his “perfect plan” to destroy the Jews came crashing down upon his own head.

But sometimes justice comes longer than we’d like. We see criminals get set free in our court systems and wonder where God is in all of this. What’s he doing about this?

But let us remember that God will never let slip what has happened. And he will bring about justice whether it’s in this life or in the next.

So don’t fret when you see all the injustice in the world. Though the justice of mankind may fail, God’s never will. So as David said,

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him! (10)