February 20, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in some selections from Psalm & Proverbs? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 7-9 (NIV)
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
In chapter 7 David seems to request and is trying to make his own sense of God’s correction. Acknowledging that we need correction and God’s righteousness knows so much more than we do.
In chapter 8 I love the question posed that why would God who has made some amazing creations in man, animal, and this earth also put His trust in us to care for it. I frequently think how foolish we are with His creations. What a mess we make with the earth and even our bodies.
In chapter 9 David praises and thanks God for all He has done in our protection and our defense. He thanks Him for knowing how to deal with the wicked and that God is glorified through all of this. God’s thought are so much higher than ours and He deals with each of us accordingly.
Psalms 7-9
Psalms 7
Psalm 7 – David calls God to execute justice, even up on himself.
“God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.”
There seems to be repeated sentiment in the Psalms that the wicked fall into the trap they themselves have set.
“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.”
Psalm 8 –
I have been thinking a lot about nations and kingdoms lately, and God’s work among the nations. God gave the earth for man to have dominion over.
“You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 9 –
We see that God will rebuke the nations of the earth. The nations are subject to God.
“You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.
You have rebuked the nations,”
“But the Lord shall endure forever;
He has prepared His throne for judgment.
He shall judge the world in righteousness,
And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.”
“The wicked shall be turned into hell,
And all the nations that forget God.”
“Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
Put them in fear, O Lord,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men.”
And again…falling into their own trap: “The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.”
Thank God for His love and mercy towards those who seek Him.
“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
A few Psalms that exalt God on His throne. A throne that differentiates between right and wrong and will deal rightly with all even when we are the ones saying “If I was the one who did wrong, show me in the way you allow and handle things.” But also deal with my enemies because they need to be taught a lesson and stop taking advantage of people. But it is also a majestic throne whose glory is shown throughout the earth. The God on this throne shares power and responsibility as well, being mindful of mankind even when we don’t deserve it. And that throne is a refuge for those who are hurting and needy and yet it is harsh with those who are proud and mean. He judges the world in righteousness and governs the people with justice. We are wise to be humble, obedient and praise the one on the throne. Because one day God will strike the nations with terror and let them know they are but men.
7The Lordreigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
9The Lordis a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms7-9
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?