Psalm 37 speaks of the fact that it really is better to stay loyal to God, that God will separate the evildoers from the faithful in His time, and that the faithful must wait patiently. Waiting patiently is not something most of us are naturally good at, so it is a good reminder for us.
Psalm 38 is David acknowledging that the trouble he was going through was a result of his own sin. Of course, not all our troubles are a result of our sin, but this psalm is geared towards those that do. The anguish brought on as consequence to our sin is deserving, but when we call on God He will be faithful to come to our aid - even if only to offer the comfort only He can give. He likely will not rescue us from circumstances of our own making, but He always longs to reconcile with a repentant sinner.
Psalm 39 is also about suffering, and a reminder of how fleeting life is.
In Acts we see Paul presenting the gospel to people who have no background whatsoever in Jewish faith or Christianity. This is important for us, as that is increasingly the case in our society today.
Almost everyone believes in God (or a higher power of some sort) and an afterlife, but they usually are very vague about what they believe, often purposefully never even thinking it through and setting for nothing.
Rayburn:
Unbelievers are made in the image of God. They have a high purpose and know it, even if they cannot seem to discover a purpose high enough to satisfy them. They know human life is sacred but cannot explain how and why they know this. They know right and wrong are real things, orders of being, and not simply social conventions, but they can't explain that either.... They know they have done much that is wrong, and it bothers them, estranges them from life, but they don't know where to find relief. And so come Christians saying, here is an explanation and a solution to the great realities of your life, an explanation that is really sufficient, adequate.
Are we willing to be bold enough to have these discussions with unbelievers, like Paul did?
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Psalms 40-42; Acts 18
2 comments:
I think this verse is both a comfort and a verse that can drive a person crazy:
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
We begin to wonder if we are not committed enough or not trusting enough and that's why our wishes ( and that's what they are) are not coming true.
However maybe OUR wishes are not in line with God's plan. 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord
This reading was a good reminder for me to remain patient in the Lord. Our reward will not be in this life and we are only here for a short while.
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