Read Psalms 52 -- 59
In Today's Reading:
Tendency of corrupt tongue; foolishness of atheism; a prayer for protection; a cry against deceitful friends; the psalmist's trust in God; prayers for deliverance.
Verses for Today:
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 ruleth (59:5,12-13).
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 for David, the man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), to express the exceeding hatred God has for evil. Included in Psalms 59 are the punishments that God will mete out against all evildoers on the day of judgment.
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 (Psalms 69:24).
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 Jehovah , [are] the Most High over all the earth (83:2-4,17-18).
The psalmist's words are inspired of God and they present defiant sinners according to their true nature -- 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 revenge. 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 the authority of God, 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), 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. Because of this, Jesus was born sinless (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). But, He also had to live a sinless life in order to be God's Perfect Sacrifice. He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), and thereby qualified to die in our place and for our sins that we might receive eternal life (1 John 5:11). There is One God, and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
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 (2 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 = corrupt; 55:4 sore = grievously; 55:9 divide their tongues = bring confusion to their counsel; 59:10 prevent = go before me.
Prayer Needs:
Government Official: Rep. Sam Farr (CA) · Pray for one another · Country: Luxembourg (429,000) in western Europe · Major languages: Luxembourgish and German · Religious freedom · 84% Roman Catholic; 2% Protestant; .1% Eastern Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Rejoice that our Savior was born (Luke 2:11).
Optional Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 1:16