But to the wicked, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.”
. . .
These things you have done and I kept silent;
you thought I was altogether like you.
But I will rebuke you
and accuse you to your face.
Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue … “
Psalm 50:16-19
In Bible class yesterday morning we talked about the schedule some people use of reading five Psalms a day for a month. It takes you through the entire book. I’m not going to do it strictly, but this morning I did read the five for today, Psalms 46 – 50. I will reread the same ones tomorrow.
There is a lot of perspective in the Psalms – a lot of the long view, and the deeper view, of life. Here’s another dose.
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;
for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.
Though while he lived he counted himself blessed —
and men praise you when you prosper –
he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life.
A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49;16-20
Visits: 45
Psalm 49: 16-20
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 50: 16-23
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
(KJV)
These verses have such a physically powerful meaning for me; and indeed it does give me a deeper view of life…..
I was but a tiny five year old girl within the desolate location of Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico; As if in a dream, I found myself alone searching for guardianship. Who was the person in charge of my safety? No one was there, just little me. I perplexedly remember a male figure—possibly my father. Abandonment seemed to be my attendant there on.
As a parent I strived to defeat that generational curse; that male figure (1st, 2nd fathers, 1st, 2nd and 3rd husbands) never stayed.
Prior to becoming a Christian, these verses pinpoint my fury toward the male figures in my life. I took selfish enjoyment in reading the verses because it gave me a sense of great revenge upon the men that hurt me externally and internally. I clench my teeth in animosity thinking of how I wished I could just turn back the hands of time and take each and every one of them and compel them to feel what I had to endure while they seemed to gotten rich of my suffering. I doted on the education of hate…bitterness is all my soul ate day after day.
“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes� was my reckoning excuse to feel complete resentment—“if my God can do this so can I� was my motto.
Today, I see these verses as a healing tools; it brings a different kind of comfort. I see it as signs of guidance, a guidance to assist me to stay on the narrow road to lead me to seek his face. I feel sadden for my male figures; of how they are lost and some have already faced their judgment day. I pray for them in hopes that they will see what they have done. I am thankful the heavenly father used me to bring them to salvation—even though it has not come to pass yet. I know that heavenly father has been there all the time…he is my male figure that never left…he is my healing father figure. Thank you Heavenly Father for filling in all my voids and making who I am today, in Jesus’ name, Amen and Amen.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14