Devotions

Psalms 17:1-3

1 Yahveh, listen to a just cause; pay attention to my cry; hear my prayer –from lips free of falsehood. 2 Let my vindication come from you, because you see what is right. 3 You have tested my heart; you have examined me at night. You have tried me and found nothing evil; I have determined that my mouth will make no mistake.

The psalmist comes from a culture where prayers were designed to manipulate the gods. He rejects that kind of religion. He opens his life for inspection by his Lord. He is not introducing himself to the Lord. So he just asks for fairness. He knows God will do the right thing.

Psalms 16:10-11

10 Because you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. 11 You will reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are permanent pleasures.

The psalmist expresses confidence that his life of faithfulness will not end in Sheol. There is a way out of the prison that everyone goes to. The way out had not yet been revealed when the psalmist wrote. It has now been revealed. The way out is the resurrection when Christ returns. God loves us too much for the darkness and death of Sheol to be the last stanza of our song.

Psalms 16:3-4

3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the majestic ones. All my delight is in them. 4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will increase; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.

The psalmist makes a decision not to promote those who abandon Yahveh. He will not honor their false religious practices. He will not even speak their names. He is identifying himself as a worshiper of Yahveh. His prayer for protection will have to be based on the power of Yahveh.

Psalms 16:1-2

1 Protect me, God, for I am taking refuge in you. 2 I said to Yahveh, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good apart from you.”

This prayer for protection is based on the rawest reality: none of us have anything good in ourselves. All the goodness and purity and life flows downstream from the sky.

Psalms 15:3-5

3 the one who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his associate or discredit his neighbor, 4 who despises the one rejected by Yahveh but honors those who fear Yahveh, who keeps his word whatever the cost, 5 who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent –the one who does these things will never be shaken.

The psalmist starts out talking about the person who can live in God’s holy tent. What does it mean to be that kind of person? It means never being shaken. That is what I want.

Psalms 15:1-2

1 Yahveh, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? 2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart —

That is a big ideal to live up to. It is true godliness. It is a life of both internalized and externalized truth. My prayer for you today is that you take one step closer to this ideal. I would appreciate your praying the same for me.

Psalms 14:4-7

4 Will evildoers never understand? They eat up my people like they eat up bread; they do not call on Yahveh. 5 Then they will be filled with fright because God is with those who are righteous. 6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but Yahveh is his refuge. 7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When Yahveh restores the well-being of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

The psalmist calls on a people whose plans are being frustrated, and whose well-being has been lost. That I can understand. I know what it feels like to be wronged. Faith calls me to rejoice and be glad. I don’t feel like doing that. But if I truly believe in God, I will worship and praise him for my coming deliverance.

Psalms 14:1-3

1 The stupid one says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do disgusting things. There is no one who does good. 2 Yahveh looks down from the sky on humanity to see if there is anyone who is wise, anyone who seeks God. 3 Everyone has turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.

Paul used this passage to show that no one perfectly follows God’s law, so all are in need of grace. The psalmist was referring to Israel’s enemies. But notice that he said that they have all turned away. That implies a previous awareness of God’s existence, no matter what they might claim. So, Paul was not talking the psalm out of context. It applies to all of us, no matter what our confession. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.