Truth and Consequences
David is human. David is not afraid to be honest, completely honest, before His God. David, “the apple of God’s eye”, falls into depression from all the troubles he momentarily has. He is wondering why he is in trouble, thrown to the dogs of this world and feels like God is not listening or working on his behalf. Though this “song” in sad, mixed with high anxiety in the beginning, David thinking begins to lift higher towards the end. He begins to praise God by the last stanza of his retort. This is common in the psalms of David.
Those of us who tend to have high highs and low lows all in the same day or week can relate. It is honest crying out to God, however, that we come closer to God. We are not fooling God! So, why shouldn’t we be honest with him as well as ourselves. When we do, we realize that He was, is and always will be at work on our behalf. We learn we cannot trust our current feelings but must wholly lean of His love and faithfulness to us. God love’s never fails. God’s faithfulness to us never ends. His love, mercy and grace are new to us every morning.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. Praise God for what we learn in and through our temporary troubles. Praise God for sending His Son, Jesus to rescue us once and for by paying the complete debt for all our sins. Praise God for being reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus!
We see the Messiah in between the lines of this prophetic song of despair that turns to praise. Our proverb reminds us of the consequences of rejecting God’s Truth. Living in defiance to our Creator is a dangerous way to live. The prophet Isaiah wrote about the foolishness of telling God what to do,
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’” Isaiah 45:9, NLT
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 22, The Message
A David Psalm
1-2 God, God . . . my God!
Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.
3-5 And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,
leaning back on the cushions of Israel’s praise?
We know you were there for our parents:
they cried for your help and you gave it;
they trusted and lived a good life.
6-8 And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
“Let’s see how God handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!”
9-11 And to think you were midwife at my birth,
setting me at my mother’s breasts!
When I left the womb you cradled me;
since the moment of birth you’ve been my God.
Then you moved far away
and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.
12-13 Herds of bulls come at me,
the raging bulls stampede,
Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
like a herd of buffalo on the move.
14-15 I’m a bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
of melted wax in my gut.
I’m dry as a bone,
my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
in the dirt.
16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
and lock me in a cage—a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
by every passerby.
They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
and then throw dice for my clothes.
19-21 You, God—don’t put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
Don’t let them cut my throat;
don’t let those mongrels devour me.
If you don’t show up soon,
I’m done for—gored by the bulls,
meat for the lions.
22-24 Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship,
and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
he has been right there, listening.
25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship
I have discovered this praise-life.
And I’ll do what I promised right here
in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at God’s table
and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God
is here, praising him.
“Live it up, from head to toe.
Don’t ever quit!”
27-28 From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to God.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
God has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
29 All the power-mongers are before him
—worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
—worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
—worshiping!
30-31 Our children and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news—
that God does what he says.
TRUTH: “God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.” He is God and we are not. He is always at work for us, not against us. God has always been in charge. God IS the Creator. His Son, Jesus Christ, was there at the beginning. Once we come to our senses, see our sin and how it destroying our lives, we run to God to be saved. The work Jesus did on the cross saves us and reconciles us to a right and holy relationship with our Creator, God. Pass on this truth to all the generations to come, your children and their children and their children…
“God does what he says.”
The wisdom from our Proverb today points out the consequences of living for evil instead of the world.
Proverb 13:1-6, The Message
Intelligent children listen to their parents;
foolish children do their own thing.
2 The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
bullies push and shove their way through life.
3 Careful words make for a careful life;
careless talk may ruin everything.
4 Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
the energetic have something to show for their lives.
5 A good person hates false talk;
a bad person wallows in gibberish.
6 A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
WISDOM: Listen to godly parents who know, believe and behave Truth. “A God-loyal life keeps you on track”, sin does not. A life lived for self is no life at all.
Abba Father,
Help us to know you, hear your voice above all others and realize the depth of love you have for us. When we do, we discover the joy of your salvation in us. Our energy for real life is renewed and our thinking refreshed. Knowing that you have wiped the slate clean of our sins, we are lifted to greater heights of behaving in ways the show your love to others. Our confidence is in you dear Jesus! Continue to transform us with knowledge of your relentless, unconditional love. Help us to love like you love us. In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe!
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 