Has every form of human government failed to correct evils, stop wicked schemes, and bring justice to the poor? Is there a kingdom that will? Let’s begin in Psalm 140.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. (WEB)
In a dangerous world of violence and evil and wars and venomous tongues, who alone can truly protect us?
Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; Protect me from violent men Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues like a snake; The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah (Ps 140:1-3 NASB)
Who alone can keep us safe from the wicked, the violent, the arrogant, and traps in our path?
Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path. [Selah] (Ps 140:4-5 NIV)
When everyone else ignores our pleas, who will hear us?
I said to the Lord: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah (Ps 140:6-8 NKJV)
Do we get involved in the deceptive politics of this world or pray for God to destroy the plans of liars in our land?
Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape. Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent. (Ps 140:9-11 NLT)
Politicians do not often maintain the cause of the afflicted or bring justice for the needy, but does God?
I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence. (Ps 140:12-13 WEB)
What will the kingdom of God actually deliver that is totally different from every form of human government?
Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did and stood up to read. The synagogue assistant gave him the scroll from the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the synagogue assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the synagogue was fixed on him. He began to explain to them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.” (Luke 4:16-21 CEB)
Has every form of human government failed to correct evils, stop wicked schemes, and bring justice to the poor? Is there a kingdom that will? You decide!
You Have Searched Me (Ps 139)
Are money, celebrity and things as important to God as a person’s heart? Let’s begin in Psalm 139.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. (WEB)
Does God know everything about us, even what we are thinking?
Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it. (Ps 139:1-6 WEB)
Where can we go to escape God who is everywhere, ubiquitous?
Where could I go to get away from your spirit? Where could I go to escape your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there. If I went down to the grave, you would be there too! If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—even there your hand would guide me; even there your strong hand would hold me tight! If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me; the light will become night around me,” even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you! Nighttime would shine bright as day, because darkness is the same as light to you! (Ps 139:7-12 CEB)
During our mother’s pregnancy, who is the one who designed a single cell to become a complete baby?
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. (Ps 139:13-14 CEV)
Who designed the intricate self-replicating DNA in that first cell, to become a variety of cells that formed a complete human body?
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Ps 139:15-16 ESV)
How can any human being possibly comprehend the thoughts of such a designer as God?
God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You. (Ps 139:17-18 HCSB)
Does God have a plan to bring justice to the wicked who hate Him and rebel?
God, if only you would execute the wicked, so that the men guilty of bloodshed would get away from me, who speak against you with evil motives, your enemies who are acting in vain. I hate those who hate you, Lord, do I not? I loathe those who rebel against you, do I not? With consummate hatred I hate them; I consider them my enemies. (Ps 139:19-22 ISV)
Do we desire that God would search our hearts and cleanse us and lead us in the way everlasting?
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps 139:23-24 KJV)
What did Jesus have to say about those who have such a pure heart?
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mat 5:8 LSB)
Are money, celebrity and things as important to God as a person’s heart? You decide!
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. (WEB)
Does God know everything about us, even what we are thinking?
Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it. (Ps 139:1-6 WEB)
Where can we go to escape God who is everywhere, ubiquitous?
Where could I go to get away from your spirit? Where could I go to escape your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there. If I went down to the grave, you would be there too! If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—even there your hand would guide me; even there your strong hand would hold me tight! If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me; the light will become night around me,” even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you! Nighttime would shine bright as day, because darkness is the same as light to you! (Ps 139:7-12 CEB)
During our mother’s pregnancy, who is the one who designed a single cell to become a complete baby?
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. (Ps 139:13-14 CEV)
Who designed the intricate self-replicating DNA in that first cell, to become a variety of cells that formed a complete human body?
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Ps 139:15-16 ESV)
How can any human being possibly comprehend the thoughts of such a designer as God?
God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You. (Ps 139:17-18 HCSB)
Does God have a plan to bring justice to the wicked who hate Him and rebel?
God, if only you would execute the wicked, so that the men guilty of bloodshed would get away from me, who speak against you with evil motives, your enemies who are acting in vain. I hate those who hate you, Lord, do I not? I loathe those who rebel against you, do I not? With consummate hatred I hate them; I consider them my enemies. (Ps 139:19-22 ISV)
Do we desire that God would search our hearts and cleanse us and lead us in the way everlasting?
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps 139:23-24 KJV)
What did Jesus have to say about those who have such a pure heart?
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mat 5:8 LSB)
Are money, celebrity and things as important to God as a person’s heart? You decide!
He Regards the Lowly (Ps 138)
What is it about humble people that God loves? Let’s begin in Psalm 138.
By David. (WEB)
Do we give God thanks and sing His praises with all our hearts?
I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praises before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your truth; For You have made Your word great according to all Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. (Ps 138:1-3 NASB)
What do we wish for all national leaders, that they would become true believers?
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. (Ps 138:4-5 NIV)
Who does God highly regard, the lowly or those filled with pride? Which ones will He revive?
Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Ps 138:6-8 NKJV)
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Does society often mock those who turn from their sins and become like little children? What does the hyperbolic language of cutting off a hand or gouging out an eye actually mean?
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. (Mat 18:1-10 NLT)
What is it about humble people that God loves? You decide!
By David. (WEB)
Do we give God thanks and sing His praises with all our hearts?
I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praises before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your truth; For You have made Your word great according to all Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. (Ps 138:1-3 NASB)
What do we wish for all national leaders, that they would become true believers?
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. (Ps 138:4-5 NIV)
Who does God highly regard, the lowly or those filled with pride? Which ones will He revive?
Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Ps 138:6-8 NKJV)
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Does society often mock those who turn from their sins and become like little children? What does the hyperbolic language of cutting off a hand or gouging out an eye actually mean?
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. (Mat 18:1-10 NLT)
What is it about humble people that God loves? You decide!
Babylon (Ps 137)
Are we slaves to a system like ancient Babylon, based on greed, designed to take instead of give? Let’s begin in Psalm 137.
How would we feel being taken captive as slaves to a foreign country as Israel was to Babylon?
Alongside Babylon’s streams, there we sat down, crying because we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres up in the trees there because that’s where our captors asked us to sing; our tormentors requested songs of joy: “Sing us a song about Zion!” they said. But how could we possibly sing the Lord’s song on foreign soil? (Ps 137:1-4 CEB)
Would they not want to forget their homeland? Does the world around us try to tempt us to forget our eternal homeland?
Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand go limp. Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I don't think about you above all else. (Ps 137:5-6 CEV)
Do we meditate on God’s eternal kingdom often, encouraging us to persevere until God takes us home?
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Ps 137:7 ESV)
In a brutal expression of grief, did the captives wish justice upon Babylon?
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks. (Ps 137:8-9 HCSB)
Does Babylon describe a sexually immoral system, a capitalist system of incredible business profits?
After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor. He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean bird, and a prison for every unclean and hated beast. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her. The world’s businesses have become rich from her luxurious excesses.” (Rev 18:1-3 ISV)
Are we warned to come out of this sinful Babylonian system?
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Rev 18:4-8 KJV)
Does this doomed Babylonian system traffic in merchandise and human lives?
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will cry and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore—cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and amomum and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and carriages and human beings and human lives. (Rev 18:9-13 LSB)
Are we slaves to a system like ancient Babylon, based on greed, designed to take instead of give? You decide!
How would we feel being taken captive as slaves to a foreign country as Israel was to Babylon?
Alongside Babylon’s streams, there we sat down, crying because we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres up in the trees there because that’s where our captors asked us to sing; our tormentors requested songs of joy: “Sing us a song about Zion!” they said. But how could we possibly sing the Lord’s song on foreign soil? (Ps 137:1-4 CEB)
Would they not want to forget their homeland? Does the world around us try to tempt us to forget our eternal homeland?
Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand go limp. Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I don't think about you above all else. (Ps 137:5-6 CEV)
Do we meditate on God’s eternal kingdom often, encouraging us to persevere until God takes us home?
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Ps 137:7 ESV)
In a brutal expression of grief, did the captives wish justice upon Babylon?
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks. (Ps 137:8-9 HCSB)
Does Babylon describe a sexually immoral system, a capitalist system of incredible business profits?
After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor. He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean bird, and a prison for every unclean and hated beast. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her. The world’s businesses have become rich from her luxurious excesses.” (Rev 18:1-3 ISV)
Are we warned to come out of this sinful Babylonian system?
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Rev 18:4-8 KJV)
Does this doomed Babylonian system traffic in merchandise and human lives?
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will cry and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore—cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and amomum and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and carriages and human beings and human lives. (Rev 18:9-13 LSB)
Are we slaves to a system like ancient Babylon, based on greed, designed to take instead of give? You decide!
His Loving Kindness (Ps 136)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? Let’s look at Psalm 136.
Do we give God thanks for His loving kindness often enough?
Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. (Ps 136:1-3 LSB)
Does looking at a different translation, help us see a different facet of God’s love? Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness evident in creation?
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. (Ps 136:4-9 NASB)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love to Israel seen in the events surrounding the Exodus?
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. (Ps 136:10-16 NIV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy seen in Israel’s promised land?
To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever. (Ps 136:17-22 NKJV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His mercy, His faithful love seen in remembering us in our daily needs?
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (Ps 136:23-26 NLT)
With God on our side are we losers when persecuted for our faith?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded 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 God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39 WEB)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? You decide!
Do we give God thanks for His loving kindness often enough?
Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. (Ps 136:1-3 LSB)
Does looking at a different translation, help us see a different facet of God’s love? Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness evident in creation?
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. (Ps 136:4-9 NASB)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love to Israel seen in the events surrounding the Exodus?
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. (Ps 136:10-16 NIV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy seen in Israel’s promised land?
To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever. (Ps 136:17-22 NKJV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His mercy, His faithful love seen in remembering us in our daily needs?
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (Ps 136:23-26 NLT)
With God on our side are we losers when persecuted for our faith?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded 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 God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39 WEB)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? You decide!
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