20181013

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 11:3-4

3 “When the foundations we depend on are destroyed, what can the righteous ones do? ” 4 Yahveh is in his holy temple; Yahveh –his throne is in the sky. His eyes are watching; his gaze is examining everyone.

We all have laws of life that we live by and trust that things will work out alright. But what happens when those foundations are ripped out from under us? We have to stop looking down for safety and security and look up to our omnipotent God enthroned in the sky. Such redirections are always painful. But the outcome is a mature faith.

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20181012

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 11:1-2

1 I have taken refuge in Yahveh. How can you say to me, “Escape to the mountains like a bird! 2 “Because notice, the wicked ones are stringing bows; they put their arrows on bowstrings to shoot from the shadows at the ones whose hearts are upright.

The psalmist knows that there is no escape in mere flight. The only real escape is divine intervention. Perhaps we should pray less “help me escape” prayers and more God, show your power” prayers.

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20181011

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:16-18

16 Yahveh is King forever and ever; the nations will be destroyed from his land. 17 Yahveh, you have heard what the humble are asking; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, 18 doing justice for the fatherless and the exploited so that mere humans from the land may terrorize them no more.

The psalmist ends his prayer for God to help those being exploited by the powerful with the assurance that God has heard. God will bring justice, which— in this case— will mean wiping out the oppression. He will stop the exploitation by destroying the exploiters.

Some people have such power and influence that it will take an act of God to bring them down. God acts.

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20181010

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:14-15

14 But you yourself have been watching trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one is entrusting himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but find it no more.

The psalmist reflects on God as carefully monitoring the crimes committed against the poor and helpless. He calls on God to act against this powerful criminal by punishing him. The broken arm prevents further acts of violence. He asks the Lord to keep pursuing these criminals until they are all caught— until there is no one left to pursue. Rid the land of the exploitation.

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20181009

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:11-13

11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he has hidden his face and will never see.” 12 Rise up, Yahveh God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the miserable ones. 13 Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not follow it up.”

The one who exploits the poor and weak has convinced himself that God is not watching, and will never follow up the crime with justice. That mindset is a trap. God sees every teardrop and drop of blood. He remembers it all and will not forget our actions. It is actually better for the wicked to be brought to justice in this age, rather than go their whole lives thinking that there is no accounting for sin. After death, there is no repentance. Only judgment day upon the return of Christ.

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20181008

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:8-10

8 He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes pursue the helpless; 9 he hides in secret like a lion in a bush. He hides in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net. 10 So he is oppressed and smashed up. Helpless people die because of the wicked one’s strength.

The psalmist is talking about the kind of person who exploits the helpless, even causing their death for his own selfish purposes.

He calls on God to rescue the innocent victims of the exploiters. In a perfect world, we could depend on just laws and government enforcement of those laws to prevent violence towards the innocent. But the psalmist didn’t live in a world like that, and neither do we.

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20181007

Posted on October 7, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:5-7

5 The roads he takes are always safe; your high judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, “I will never be moved –from generation to generation without disaster.” 7 Cursing, lying, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice readily come out of his tongue.

The psalmist is describing the sinner who sees himself above God and his law. Such a person does not know the gift of fear. He does what he wants and fears no consequences. We might think that such a life would be something to be desired. No, it might be an entire life of safe sinning; but it will come to an end. On judgment day, many who have lived such a life will find out that only suffering and destruction await them.

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20181006

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:2-4

2 Arrogantly the wicked ones stalk their victims; let them be caught in the traps they have dreamed up. 3 Because the wicked one brags about his own lusts; the one who is greedy curses and despises Yahveh. 4 While he is scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.”

If you have ever been victimized, you know the feeling of embarrassment and helplessness reflected in this passage.

Today, Lord, we want to ask you to bring justice to the victims all around us. And those who use people for their own amusement, and feel they are above the law— show them that you exist— that they are accountable to you.

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20181005

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 10:1 Yahveh, why are you standing so far away? Why are you hiding in hard times?

What an honest prayer! This believer does not doubt the existence of God or his power to intervene. He questions why God seems so far away when he needs him most. We are a few centuries away from the famous footprints saying. I don’t think the psalmist felt like he was being carried. He probably felt like he was being dragged — through nettles and barbed wire. He desperately tries to hang on to his faith when sight says he has been abandoned.

No answer here. I just want to pray for those of you who feel that way today. It’s a big club; we should order t-shirts.

Lord, make your presence known to those of us who feel alone in our troubles today.

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20181004

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms 9:18-20

18 Because the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever. 19 Rise up, Yahveh! Do not allow mere humans to prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Put terror in them, Yahveh; let the nations know they are merely humans. Selah

This psalm is a prayer for those who feel forgotten. It is a prayer for justice for those oppressed by powers they cannot control. The psalmist prays for God to act in history as he did to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Independence from tyranny is what God wants for everyone. That is not all he wants, but it is his revealed will.

Lord, rescue those enslaved by tyrants or systems of government which do not allow their people to live and worship freely.

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