Tag: psalm-14

Sacrifice, Work and Labor at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure that no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Psalm 15

Psalm 15 The Message

15 God, who gets invited
    to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?

2 “Walk straight,
    act right,
        tell the truth.

3-4 “Don’t hurt your friend,
    don’t blame your neighbor;
        despise the despicable.

5 “Keep your word even when it costs you,
    make an honest living,
        never take a bribe.

“You’ll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart?

Who are the invited?

Who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Where are the invited who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Where is that Heavenly Angelic chorus singing …?

Psalm 23:6Authorized (King James) Version

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

What is God’s sanctuary?

Probably too many of us think of it only as a church building.

In its widest, richest sense, God’s sanctuary is wherever we experience God.

It is the place where our heart is.

On Sunday a church building becomes a sanctuary as God’s people gather, make up the building blocks of God’s spiritual temple (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:5).

There we are strengthened for another week of work, another week of serving God—out in the sanctuary of God’s vast world.

Psalm 15 reminds us that what pleases God is not rituals but a life that seeks to live God’s way.

When we walk with God on a daily basis, we will do what is right, speak the truth, refuse to slander others, and not harm our neighbors in any way.

What’s more, we won’t be impressed by people who delight in doing wrong or in mocking God, and we will honor those who faithfully serve God.

We will keep our promises, even when it hurts. And we will help the poor and protect the innocent, taking no part in any bribery, fraud, or other corruption.

When we live as the psalmist describes, we experience God’s presence.

This happens not only in church gatherings but also in our everyday activities.

Those who live God’s way are building the foundation of a life which cannot be shaken—regardless of uninvited trials try shifting the ground under our feet!

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

“Who shall dwell on your holy hill?”

The question David poses in the first verse is of the utmost importance. It may strike us as a question that’s tied only to worship in ancient Israel, but in truth it takes us to the very doorstep of heaven and asks us, Who will enter these gates?

While the answer is explained in the rest of Psalm 15, the general point is one we find throughout Scripture.

The writer of Hebrews advised his readers to “strive for … the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

The Lord Jesus similarly instructed that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).

Isaiah 2:1-5 Lexham English Bible

The Mountain of Yahweh

2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 And it shall happen in the future of the days
the mountain of the house[a] of Yahweh shall be established;
it will be among the highest[b] of the mountains,
    and it shall be raised from the hills.
All of the nations shall travel to him;
3     many peoples shall come.
And they shall say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
    to the house[c] of the God of Jacob,
and may he teach us part of his ways,
    and let us walk in his paths.”
For instruction shall go out from Zion,
    and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations
    and he shall arbitrate for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
A nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation,
    and they shall not learn war again.

Those who’ll stand on the holy hill of the Lord, enjoy His presence for eternity, then, are those who arrive there by the narrow way, striving after holiness.

The sad truth is that too many assume they will dwell on God’s holy hill because they once said a prayer, walked down an aisle, or are a member of a church.

It is a grave mistake to think that those acts on their own will merit eternal life if they are accompanied with a way of life that gives no evidence of knowing Christ as Lord.

Charles Spurgeon once preached,

“If the man does not live differently from what he did before … his repentance needs to be repented of, and his conversion is a fiction.”[1]

1 “What Is It to Win a Soul?,” The Sword and the Trowel (December 1879), p 561.

So, who will ascend the hill of the Lord?

It is the one who “walks blamelessly,”

In a way that cannot be confused with that of an unbeliever, and whose life manifests the reality that God has saved him or her.

It is the one whose talk is not marked by slander but who “speaks truth in his heart.” This is someone who doesn’t merely say what is correct but says what is correct and true, with no gap between what is said and what is lived, is done.

The combination of reading Psalm 15 and looking honestly at ourselves will very likely be discouraging.

Only the Lord Jesus embodies the psalm’s portrayal of holiness to perfection.

John 3:19-21 Amplified Bible

19 This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the [a]darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. 21 But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].”

He deserves to dwell on His Father’s holy hill,

and only because He chose to die for His people’s sins and clothe them with His perfection are we invited to live with Him there.

It is always good and right to let the light of God’s word shine on our hearts and expose, and reveal, against the desires of the darkness what is there, for it will steadily move us towards authentic repentance and to gratitude to our Savior.

And those who know they will stand there because of Him will seek to be like Him. Consider your walk and your words, and pray that you would be ever more conformed to the image of Christ until you dwell with Him on God’s holy hill.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 14 New King James Version

Folly of the Godless, and God’s Final Triumph
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

14 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the Lord?
5 There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the Lord is his refuge.

7 Oh,[a] that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord brings back [b]the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

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Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice. Proverbs 12:15

Proverbs 12:15 Complete Jewish Bible

15 Fools suppose their way is straight,
    but the wise pay attention to advice.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Are We Learning From the Examples of Others?

I had a friend who was a very handy repairman. One day I discovered a leak in my plumbing and didn’t know how to fix it.

I went to him for advice, and he showed me how to fix the problem. His help saved me hundreds of dollars, avoiding water damage throughout my house.

Over the years, I have realized oft, the importance of learning from others’ experiences.

Observing others’ successes and mistakes can provide valuable lessons.

We often think we must figure everything out on our own, but wisdom invites us to learn from others.

Proverbs helps us see that surrounding ourselves with wise mentors and friends can profoundly help in our decision making and growth.

There were, times when I didn’t heed advice, and I faced hard consequences.

Ignoring a mentor’s caution about a business venture, for example, led to a financial loss.

Looking back, I can see how pride and stubbornness can cloud judgment, leading to avoidable mistakes. Learning from others calls for humility and openness, patience, recognizing that we don’t, wont, have all the answers.

God strategically, subtly, places people in our lives to guide and teach us.

In addition, the Bible is filled with stirring stories of people who had learned valuable lessons through their experiences—both good and bad. By observing their wise, foolish, examples, we gain insight into living wisely and faithfully.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Complete Jewish Bible

5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.

7 Don’t be conceited about your own wisdom;
but fear Adonai, and turn from evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and give strength to your bones.

In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;

Pray,

Psalm 14 Complete Jewish Bible

14 (0) For the leader. By David:

(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.

2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.

7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The LORD looks down from heaven … to see if there are any who minimally try to understand, any who seek God. Psalm 14

Psalm 14New King James Version

Folly of the Godless, and God’s Final Triumph

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

14 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the Lord?
5 There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the Lord is his refuge.

7 Oh,[a] that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord brings back [b]the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

High and Low, Is there Not Even One to be found?

So, do we reflect on incentives God gives us for seeking him?

Can we see that the rewards for engaging in such a search are priceless?

Are we even minimally prepared, they are what we all, deep down, really crave?

The problem is that we often look for the right things in the wrong places.

And, worse, as we endeavor to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ, learn from heaven’s point of view, not even one of us is willing to look in the right place?

We are completely stuck on trying to do things our own way, not God’s way?

So when God looks down from heaven (Psalms 27, 139, 2 Chronicles 16:8-9) searching to and fro for even one person searching for him, he finds no one.

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I [b]shall be confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [c]beauty of the Lord
And to [d]meditate in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [e]tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices [f]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 [g]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a level path
Because of [h]my foes.
12 Do not deliver me over to the [i]desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 [j]I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

“GOD FINDS NO ONE?!”

That’s beyond astounding, that is so far beyond comprehension, isn’t it?

Or does it come as no surprise to anyone discerning, observant enough?

There is so much spirituality these days—and, in fact, there always has been.

We will rigorously, vigorously, defend the claim we are “incurably religious” “incurably spiritual.”

The world is full of cathedrals, temples, mosques, shrines, churches, and synagogues. Songs, liturgies, dramas, art—all are laced with appeals to God.

But when God looks down on all this “god–seeking religion and spirituality” he announces to all of us he really does not see any true god–seeking in any of it.

What people are looking for is a god to serve them, automatically affirm all of their whims, all of their so called “God seeking” and politicalized agendas.

And, truly, God is a great help to us all. He is our only help and strength.

But God is seeking people who are authentically looking for the God they can trust with their whole life and future, rather than simply a god they can use for their own personal self centered, finite temporary temporal illogical purposes.

Sadly, none of us surrenders on our own.

It takes God’s grace to lower our knees.

God Does Not, Has, Will, Never, Accept Any Bribes

Isaiah 1:13-20 New American Standard Bible 1995

13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are [a]covered with blood.

16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
[b]Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

“Let Us Reason”

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The sins of Judah were beginning to resemble those of Sodom and Gomorrah.

God’s people didn’t understand the holy will of their God.

Injustice against the weak and vulnerable was becoming rampant.

God’s people thought they could make up for their sinful actions and appease God’s holiness by sacrificing animals, doing other self serving religious rituals.

But they continued in their evil ways of injustice and oppression against weak and vulnerable people.

The society had become dominated by rich powerbrokers who thought nothing of accumulating wealth and gaining more clout over the poor and powerless.

In addition, the judges and religious leaders did not condemn them but instead enjoyed their generous bribes and elaborate parties, manipulated their people.

But those who are being manipulated, trampled under the heel of oppression of the self serving creators of their own “about God” agendas have God on their side. God doesn’t accept bribes, doesn’t run a revolving court open to bribery.

And God expects nothing less of his people in return. Addressing the leaders of Judah, the prophet Isaiah demanded, “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widows and orphans.”

That is our calling still today.

Beyond supporting those who only want to hear their own voices, who’ll only want to hear, listen to and be told how right they always are, no disagreements only unconditional support for their own brand of ideologies and theologies, preach, teach from their own interpretations, representations of God’s truth.

Where opposition is suppressed, underrepresented, cancelled out, minimized.

Where rational, logical reasoning like God expects from us, is shouted down.

Our practice of compassion and justice anticipates the coming day when the Lord himself will come in person to “give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4).

Isaiah 11:1-9 New American Standard Bible 1995

Righteous Reign of the Branch

11 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,
And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
7 Also the cow and the bear will graze,
Their young will lie down together,
And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,
And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea.

Kingdom Agenda: A World Where God Is Known

Isaiah 11:6-9New American Standard Bible 1995

6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
7 Also the cow and the bear will graze,
Their young will lie down together,
And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,
And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah likens the Messiah’s kingdom to the sea.

He says peace will be the order of the day because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

In the righteous kingdom of God, life is at full tide.

Buoyed by currents of the knowledge of the Lord, life will be full and colorful.

In that day, no one will need to “teach his neighbor … saying, ?Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me,” says God (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Imagine a world in which everyone knows the riches of God’s wisdom and each person has tasted God’s grace and understands how to give it. (Psalm 34:8-10)

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

Isaiah’s imagery also suggests something about our mission in a world that is not yet full of God’s glory. We who have this knowledge must make God known by our words, actions, until the day God’s glorious kingdom vision is realized.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Let us Pray,

Psalm 34 New King James Version

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The [a]angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no [b]want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To [c]cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as [d]have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be [e]condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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