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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Ps. 37
I was studying just the other day on loving those who don’t love you and giving to those who can’t or won’t give back. Or, harder yet, I think, is loving and giving to those who repay your good with harm. People who are difficult and unpleasant to love for whatever reason are collectively what the Bible refers to as our enemies. So this morning when I read, “Do not be agitated by evildoers” (Ps. 37:1a), it occurred to me that this is the same thing. Agitation is not a love response.
Later in this Psalm David notes that getting agitated can only bring harm. So not only does the agitation not demonstrate love to the wrongdoer, but it isn’t good for you either. Thus, the wrongdoer wins. This is why the apostle Paul tells us, “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21). Therefore, when Jesus told us to love our enemies and David said to not let evildoers agitate us, they were both telling us that trusting in God and holding fast to His righteousness is the way we win our battles. If we fight them in our own power, it only brings harm. But if we leave it to God by responding in love, God will deliver us from that harm.
Ps. 71
This Psalm speaks of lifelong, total reliance on God. It is really the only way to truly live, even though we trip and stumble along the way and, as the Psalmist notes, God puts us through many struggles. The phrase that caught my attention in all of this though, was, “I have leaned on you from birth” (Ps. 71:6a). Of course, none of us has the reasoning power to choose God at birth. This statement, then, is a declaration of our dependence, even before we are aware of it. The truth is that we all need God; it is He who sustains each one of us. Thus the questions are, do we recognize it and are we willing to accept it. And the promise is that if we do, God’s faithfulness will never fail.
Ps. 94
I see several related truths in this Psalm that should guide the way I live.
- We live in troubled times, “until a pit is dug for the wicked.” (Ps. 94:13b). This reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds. God will not pull up the weeds until His harvest is complete. Until then, we live with the trouble they cause.
- It is God’s discipline and His ways – though they are hard – that give us relief from these troubled times. As I was just writing about with loving those who aren’t loving – it isn’t easy, but it protects us. Thus, God’s discipline brings us happiness.
- God is faithful and will never leave us to fight this battle alone.
- We have a sure hope to hold on to. “…for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” (Ps. 94:15). Though justice in these troubled times is clearly broken, our faithful God will put all things right when the time comes. So embrace His discipline, hold fast to His ways, trust in His faithfulness, and He will lead us to His glory with joy.