Take a Deep Breath

(Psa 23:5 KJV)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I can’t make you do it, but let me encourage you to get out your Bible and read the 23rd Psalm to yourself.  Read slowly.  Read with dramatic emphasis.  Read with your heart and mind engaged. And then when you get down to that verse that says your cup runneth over pause, and just praise God.

Keep in mind that at the beginning of the 22nd Psalm David is asking God why he has been forsaken.  The difference is not in God.  The difference is in the attitude of the believer.  God is there.  God is here.  He is where you are on a constant basis.

So?  Remember that you are the sheep and He is the shepherd.  Trust. 

Beyond the surface.

Psalms 44:3 (KJV) For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

If you take this, literally, it sounds like Israel simply walked into the promised land, and it was delivered to them. If you read the story that is being referred to they had to fight for everything they got. The point is that ultimately it was God’s hand that brought victory not their own personal efforts.

So?  We are expected to follow in obedience and act on God's direction. God promises much but he also demands obedience. 

All the time.

Psalms 43:3 (KJV) O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

We don’t know who wrote this psalm.  Since it doesn’t have an author given, we can assume it was David.  If you look at the context, he seems to be a bit down in the mouth and struggling.  He is being persecuted.  He offers up this prayer, asking God to send his light.

I think this is a good prayer for any time in our lives.  We tend to look at things like this as pleas for relief.  They could simply be an expression of expectation and hope.

So? Don’t be a stranger. Don’t just come around when you want to borrow a quarter. Make God a part of the celebration of life not just the seeking of help. 

Pay Back

(Pro 20:22 KJV)  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

The idea of not paying back evil goes along with the other verses that say to leave vengeance to the Lord. Here is one of the places,

(Rom 12:19 KJV)  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Paying back evil and vengeance would tend to be the same thing.  That is not, however, the same thing as seeking justice.  Vengeance is rooted in anger when we do it.  It is a personal vendetta and not an attitude of forgiveness.  Justice is rooted in God’s principles and standards.  In our courts we seek justice.  

Vengeance is also different than punishment or paying retribution.

So?  Our default setting is forgiveness not payback.  Make that a matter of serious prayer.

Objects of Trust

(Pro 19:12 KJV)  The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Verse 12 talks about the king’s favor being like dew on the grass.  I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  Does it mean that kings favor is transitory or does it mean that a kings favor is refreshing?  At present I am going with the both/and understanding.

Don’t plan your life based on the approval of people above you.  If you follow Jesus, you will find that often the people giving you orders or setting your work schedule are not on the same page as you are.  This can also happen in families.  Make sure that you don’t put your future on the shifting sands of someone else's mood or priorities.

Also enjoy the good times when they are there.  Just keep in mind that the dew disappears when things get hot and it adds to the humidity that makes like uncomfortable.

So?  Put your confidence in King Jesus.  He is consistent and trustworthy. 

Cross Reference

(Pro 18:22 KJV)  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

This verse says that finding a wife is a “good” (2896b) thing.  You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to realize that Solomon has a lot to say about the contentious wife.  This seems like a blanket statement but the next day I read chapter 19 which has,

(Pro 19:14 KJV)  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Notice that here the wife is from the Lord, but you have the modifier of “prudent”.  I think you need to put these two together to get the essence of the meaning.

Mark this down as a principle of Bible interpretation.  If you have something that is confusing or does not make sense then get to work seeing what else the Bible says of the subject.  You will find that by considering the whole witness of the word resolution will come.

So?  Don’t turn off your mind.  Don’t get discouraged.  The answers are there.  Pursue them.

Pray for Our Leaders

(Psa 17:13 KJV)  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

We are told to pray for the president who just declared Trans Reveal Day.  We are to pray for the political class that thinks of themselves as our leaders.  One of the prayers that I think is appropriate is this verse.  We want God to “confront” (6923) those who push evil in our world.  We want God to be the spoiler, and they need to be spoiled.

We are asking God to “deliver” (6403).  I might note that there are plenty of places where God calls about delivering His people.

So?  Be His people.  Put yourself in His hands.  I don’t see any promises that God will protect one pagan from another.