June 17, 2023 — Psalm 60 

“O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; now restore us! You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering. You have made your people suffer hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us reel. You have set up a banner for those who fear you, to rally to it out of bowshot.  Give victory with your right hand, and answer us, so that those whom you love may be rescued. God has promised in his sanctuary: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem, and portion out the Vale of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I hurl my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph. Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless.With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” Psalm 60 

What an amazing truth is taught in verse 11: “…human help is worthless.” Of course, if we hear this phrase as it stands, alone, then we wonder how human help is worthless? Well, it is worthless if we only depend on people without considering G-d also as a source of help in our lives. You see, we live in a culture today that believes the opposite: the help of G-d is useless to people. They believe the god of this world should be man — or science. We crawled out of the slime and evolved; that makes us the only thing that anyone can rely upon. Look at the great achievements made in the last 100 years — all because of people and their smarts. Sounds convincing, doesn’t it? 

Don’t be deceived by such thinking; G-d is not dead. G-d IS alive and is everywhere G-d promises to be. So, where is G-d now, in this time of death and viruses and isolation then? 

Our world is filled with stories of good and bad witches, good and bad demons, and good and evil spirits. I think this shows a deeper understanding about how our world works, even if people try to dismiss the presence of G-d. There is a true spiritual realm in which G-d reigns with guardian angels, and Satan constantly attacks and devours with his evil angels. The Psalmist says “With God we will do valiantly.” There is a lot of wisdom that we can still find in the Psalms — for I could not say it any better.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have overcome the world, and all power and authority is yours. When evil seems to triumph, give us courage and faith, and help us never to forget that you are with us to the end of time. To you be glory now and forever.

Amen.

June 16, 2023 — Psalm 59 

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who work evil; from the bloodthirsty save me. Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse yourself, come to my help and see! You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and  prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with sharp words on their lips—for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” But you laugh at them, O LORD; you hold all the nations in derision. O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.” Psalm 59:1-10 

Injustice can be practiced by government leaders, police and judges, parents, church leaders, office managers, shop floor foremen, union leaders etc. The best way to avoid practicing injustice is to fear G-d, walk in the light and be accountable in all relationships. At home, husbands and wives should love each other with the foundation of G-d’s love. All Christians must do good whenever they have the opportunity to do so.

True faith knows that prayer is not a waste of time and hence makes prayer a priority. True faith sees in advance that G-d is able and willing to overrule the unjust decisions of man and thus will find rest in G-d as a refuge.  Though true faith cries for deliverance, it will leave the timing, the ways and means to G-d alone. 

A Christian farmer put a caption ‘God is love’ on his weather vane on top of his house. A visitor was curious to know the reason for such a caption in such an unusual place. The farmer told him, “This will remind me that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.” 

Prayer

Lord God of power, you rescued your Son from the grasp of evil powers. Deliver us from evil and confirm our trust in you, so that with our rising we may sing of your power and at dawn exult in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Amen.