Bible League: Living His Word Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!— Psalm 37:7 ESV Turning on the television news in today's world can almost be hazardous to one's emotional health. It appears that unrighteousness is excelling on every front, much of it in direct confrontation to any voice of righteousness being upheld by Christians. Though difficult to believe, appearances are deceiving, because we know God will ultimately have the final say. But, until then, we are called to let our patience rule the day, not only regarding our personal circumstances and relationships, but also those larger cultural and governmental movements in our world. Psalm 37 is a wisdom poem contrasting the way of godliness over against the way of the wicked. Before such contrasts are made by David (beginning at verse 10), he begins with a series of exhortations that will help the believer to not only survive but thrive amid wrongful perversity. Our verses for today provide a summarized transition from the practical exhortations given in the first six verses&mdashin light of the way we ought to conduct our lives as believers, we ought also to exercise a restful trust in the Lord. God wins in the end! Carefully read again verses 7-9 to capture the bit of wisdom that helps us to cope amidst the turmoil. The word "wait patiently" (a single word expressing intent) in verse seven is different than the word "wait" in verse nine. In verse seven, the word carries forth the meaning of collecting our thoughts, so as to bring them under control. We can only do this when we are "still" (restful) before the Lord. Amid all the noise of wickedness surrounding us we need to come before God with a quiet, restful spirit, intent on collecting our many thoughts and concerns for life and patiently bringing them before Him, believing in His full control over all the circumstances of our lives. This type of daily appointment before God places us in the best position to have the exasperations of our life&mdashthe pressures of contending with a fallen world where wickedness prospers&mdashmelt away before us. Twice in these verses we are told not to fret (to seethe with anger). The word "fret" is a play on words (a rhyming word in the original language) with the word used for "wait" in verse nine (to linger with eager expectation). In other words, to place ourselves before God at appointed times, intent on collecting our worrisome thoughts and laying them at His feet provides the best opportunity to rise above the circumstances of an ungodly world and experience the fullness of God's blessing to us in this world and the next (the "inheritance" of the land of verse 9)! The stressors of a world, fallen and still spiraling downward, have tempted many to find release through medications, sedatives, and reckless lifestyles. Still, nothing satisfies the rage within. Only God can satisfy the exasperation of the human heart. Make an appointment with Him today. Be intent on resting in His presence and patiently sharing with Him the concerns of your life. By William Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 10, 11, 12 Psalm 10 -- Why do you stand far off, O Lord? NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 11 -- In the Lord I take refuge NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 12 -- Help, O Lord; for the godly man ceases NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 17:16-34 Acts 17 -- Paul at Thessalonica, Berea and Athens NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?Insight Nothing material can compensate for the loss of eternal life. Jesus' disciples are not to use their lives on earth for their own pleasure—they should spend their lives serving God and people. Challenge If this present life is most important to you, you will do everything you can to protect it. You will not want to do anything that might endanger your safety, health, or comfort. By contrast, if following Jesus is most important, you may find yourself in unsafe, unhealthy, and uncomfortable places. You will risk death, but you will not fear it because you know that Jesus will raise you to eternal life. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jonah 4:9 God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry?Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, "Doest thou well to be angry?" It may be that we can answer, "YES." Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must answer, "NO." Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honorable to our Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of our newborn nature? Many professors give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. "Yes," said he, "but the fruit will not be crabs." We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.Romans 8:38,39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, • nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 17:12 "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Proverbs 8:31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men. Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Romans 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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