who is listening

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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Psalm 59:6-7 (JDV)

Psalm 59:6 They return at evening, in uproar like dogs and prowling around the city.
Psalm 59:7 Notice, they spew from their mouths – sharp words from their lips. “Because who,” they say, “is listening?”

David’s enemies thought they could say what they wanted to say to tear him down and seek his destruction because no one was listening — nobody cared. They could not be more wrong. God cares, and he is always listening.

The tongue can tear a heart out. Watch what you say because it can destroy others. Even when they do not appear to have meant anything, your words can dig deep inside and hurt and unsettle the ones you speak to. And your judge is listening.

Lord, give us wisdom to avoid hurtful words.

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not my fault

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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not my fault

Psalm 59:3-5 (JDV)

Psalm 59:3 Because notice, Yahveh, they have set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any failure or rebellion of mine.
Psalm 59:4 For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice.
Psalm 59:5 You, Yahveh God of Armies, are the God of Israel. Rise up to punish all the nations; do not show favor to any wicked traitors. Selah

not my fault

David would know failure and guilt and shame, but he also had times like this, when he did all the right things, and still experienced crisis and threat of death.

Likewise, we believers in Christ will have crisis moments, not tied to any sin or rebellion on our part, but simply because we are in Christ. These are times that test the quality of our commitment. In such times, we need only stretch out our hands and take hold of the lifeline Christ has prepared for us. He knows what it is like to suffer though innocent.

Lord, rescue us from the plans of the enemy.

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crisis moments

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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crisis moments

Psalm 59:1-2 (JDV)

Psalm 59:1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.
Psalm 59:2 Rescue me from those who practice failure, and save me from men of bloodshed.

crisis moments

I generally don’t remember events in detail, but there is an exception. I remember crisis moments where my life was in danger, or I had a feeling of immanent danger. When I was overseas as a missionary, I remember a night when I felt rebels were going to invade my house and take me and my family hostage. I remember the sights and sounds, and the fears.

David was having one of those crisis moments. His prayer for rescue from people with bloodshed on their minds was not hyperbole. He was literally in danger, and only God could rescue him.

If you have never had such a crisis moment, I can’t say that you are fortunate. Our kingdom faith is empowered by such moments, because in them we learn to rely upon God for our rescue. Also, the more we take a stand for God, the more we can expect to be tested to measure the quality of that commitment.

Lord, prepare us for life’s crisis moments, by teaching us to trust you every moment.

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a watched pot

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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a watched pot

Psalm 58:9-11 (JDV)

Psalm 58:9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns – whether green or burning – he will sweep them away.
Psalm 58:10 The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalm 58:11 Then people will say, “Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges in the land!”

a watched pot

The saying goes “a watched pot never boils” suggesting that if you are anticipating or waiting for something it will not happen.  Apparently the psalmist does not subscribe to that proverb. He anticipates the retribution of God against his enemies. He is waiting to see what God does in response to his prayer. Now, we might say that the prayer sounds vindictive and cruel. Who really wants to wash his feet in his enemies’ blood? But, the fact is, when our enemies are God’s enemies, seeking not only our death but the downfall of the gospel, their fate is already sealed. Waiting for the destruction of God’s enemies is part of waiting for God’s ultimate will to happen.

In the mean time, some of those enemies are marked for forgiveness and restoration. We need the courage to keep preaching the gospel to them.

Lord, we trust you to right all wrongs, and to punish all your enemies with the wages of their sin: death. But give us the courage to keep preaching the gospel to bring even them to salvation.watch the video

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making the water flow by

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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making the water flow by

Psalm 58:6-8 (JDV)

Psalm 58:6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Yahveh, tear out the young lions’ fangs.
Psalm 58:7 May they disappear like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows.
Psalm 58:8 Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.

making the water flow by

I have seen a lot of water flow by in all the streams I have hiked by and all the great rivers I have enjoyed. I can imagine it has been millions of gallons that I personally have watched flow by me over my lifetime.

The psalmist is admitting that he faces dangerous enemies and troubling times. But he is asking God to make those enemies disappear like water that flows by. He knows they will aim their arrows, but he is asking God to make them miss their mark.

Each day, we get up and face a dangerous world, full of things that might happen. It would not be inappropriate for us to pray a prayer like this, asking God to keep the adversary from succeeding in his plots to overcome us and our testimony.

Lord, make the water flow on by today.

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deaf cobra

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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deaf cobra

Psalm 58:3-5 (JDV)

Psalm 58:3 The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.
Psalm 58:4 They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra who stops up his ears,
Psalm 58:5 who does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells.

deaf cobra

Cobras are deaf to ambient noises, and rely on ground vibrations instead. As such, they are a good illustration of the kind of people the psalmist is talking about. They don’t seem to have the conscience filter that average people are born with.

Lord, give us a sensitivity to right and wrong so that we can lead others to you without hypocrisy.

 

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false gods

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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Psalm 58:1-2 (JDV)

Psalm 58:11 Are you really saying the right things, you gods? Do you judge people fairly?
Psalm 58:2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.

Before David asks for God to overcome the plots of the wicked, he steps back and speaks brashly to the gods who are controlling them. These gods are not people, they are demons who use people like pawns. Our God is God and there is no other. Most of us live in societies who promote “inclusiveness.” We must certainly respect and befriend people who are different from us. But the Christian has to draw the line at being religiously inclusive.

Unbeliever, your god is plotting unfairness, injustice and violence. You should be rebuking and forsaking  him or her, and running to Jesus, because only he saves.

Lord, draw our friends and relatives away from their false gods and to you.

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alarm clock

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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alarm clock

Psalm 57:8-11 (JDV)

Psalm 57:8 Wake up, my throat! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.
Psalm 57:9 I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Psalm 57:10 For your covenant faithfulness is as high as the sky; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
Psalm 57:11 God, be exalted above the sky; let your glory be over the whole land.

alarm clock

These are the words of someone with a great burden, which he brought to the Lord, and now he has emerged from his depression and fear with a new zeal to worship God. Normally, the dawn was his alarm clock. It wakes him up, but now he cannot wait for the day’s new light so that he can tell the world about his wonderful Savior. He has become the world’s alarm clock.

Lord, fill us with a burning desire to wake up the dawn with your praise.

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the joy of depression

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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the joy of depression

Psalm 57:6-7 (JDV)

Psalm 57:6 They prepared a net for my steps; I was depressed. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! Selah.
Psalm 57:7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises.

the joy of depression

No, that is not a type-o.  I said the joy of depression. It is the joy we can get after our depression (which is real and terrible) brings us back to our knees before our God, who is also real and the solution to depression. Spending some time back in the sanctuary of God’s presence helps pull us out of the pit that other people and bad circumstances can get us in.

I have friends who are struggling with anxiety, and I tell them to go back to the word of God and prayer on a regular basis. He works when drugs and rehab will not. He is strong enough to pull anyone out of their depths.

Lord, thank you for the low times because you pull us out of them.

 

 

 

 

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reason for our rescue

Posted on April 24, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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reason for our rescue

Psalm 57:5 God, be exalted above the sky; let your glory be over the whole land.

reason for our rescue

Right in the middle of a prayer ridden with anxiety, in which the psalmist cries out because he is surrounding by hungry lions ready to eat him — he stops and prays for God’s exaltation.

The reason any of us can come to God for help is that we are connected to him by covenant. Our covenant with Christ is reason enough for us to pray for his deliverance during hard times, because he wants to be exalted by our rescue.

Lord, rescue us, and so glorify your name, which we have taken.

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