Bible Pathways 7/4/2001

July 4

Read Psalms 52 -- 59

Because of His perfect holiness, God must judge all unconfessed sin. He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13). So it is fitting that David, the man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14), expressed the exceeding hatred God has for evil. Included in Psalm 59 are the punishments that God will mete out against all evildoers on the day of judgment. For example: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. . . . For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath . . . let them know that God rules (59:5,12-13).

The Holy Spirit guided David to leave no room for doubt concerning the destiny of all lost sinners: Pour out Your indignation upon them. . . . Let them be blotted out of the book of the living (69:24,28).

Asaph was also led to record the fate of all the enemies of God: They that hate You. . . . have taken crafty counsel against Your people. . . . They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. . . . let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that You, whose Name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth (Psalms 83:2-4,17-18).

The psalmist's words are inspired of God and they present sin according to its true nature -- as rebellion against God. David identified himself with God, who hates sin: I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies (139:22). A perfect hatred is not one of personal jealousy, spite, envy, or ambition. Instead, it is the expression of a king who recognized that he was the anointed representative of God on earth and was responsible to administer justice on the Lord's behalf. God hates sin and will one day judge all unrepentant sinners. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (9:17).

After his own rebellion against God, Satan tempted Eve to sin and she believed Satan's lie. As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience against God's authority, all mankind has inherited Adam's sinful nature, which is deceitful . . . and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). There is none righteous, no, not one. . . . All have sinned (Romans 3:10,23), and are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Because Jesus Christ was the virgin-born Son of God, the sin nature that passed from Adam through all men was absent making Christ sinless (see II Corinthians 5:21) and thereby qualified to die in our place and for our sins that we might receive eternal life (I John 5:11). There is One God, and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). True repentance prepares our hearts to receive Christ as our Savior and to allow Him to become Lord (Controller) of our lives in obedience to His Word (Acts 2:38; 4:12).

Our loving, compassionate Savior will soon return as King of kings taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Christ Revealed: As the One who saves those who call upon Him (Psalms 55:16-17). Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

Word Studies: 53:3 filthy means corrupt; 55:4 sore means grievously; 55:9 divide their tongues means bring confusion to their counsel; 59:10 prevent means go before me.

Prayer:

Government Official: Rep. Sam Farr (CA) · Pray for the Bible Pathway Internet Outreach and the Bible Pathway devotions in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish that are now online on our website. Let friends and missionaries overseas know that the devotional commentary is now available in these languages · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast sponsored by Two of the Lord's Bible Missionaries · Country: Niger (10 million) in west-central Africa · Major languages: French and Hausa · Christian evangelism is limited · 89% Muslim; 10% animist; .4% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Forgive others without exception, and then ask the Lord to forgive you (Matthew 6:12).