RR Psalm 59:7-10 Part 4

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 59:Psa 59:7 They return at evening, snarling like a dog, prowling about the city. 8 See, they are spewing with their mouth—swords in their lips—“After all, who is listening?” 9 But You, Adonai, are laughing at them. You scoff at all the nations. 10 O my strength, I watch for You—for God is my strong tower.

There are three “players” in these four verses.  First, there is “they” (and what “they” are doing to disrupt the purposes of God). Then, in verse 9, we have, “But You, Adonai(YHVH).”  Aren’t we glad those words are in the Bible?  Where would we be without them?  “But God” saves us from certain destruction.  Finally, there is “us.”  We are the third party.

Here, in verse 9, God is laughing at “them” (our enemies).  That’s what God does, He laughs at those who oppose Him.  He is not threatened.  God is secure in His identity.  Those who oppose God have a certain (predetermined) destiny.  Romans 6:23 For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.  Want more good news?  God has arranged for us to determine our own destiny.  

Joshua 24:15  If it seems bad to you to worship Adonai, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers worshipped that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!”

Or, perhaps the more often used scripture to support the idea that the choice is our own…1Kings 18:21a Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; but if Baal is, follow him.”  Elijah spoke to a people who were conflicted… 1Kings 18:21b But the people did not answer him, not even a word.  Don’t be conflicted.  If you deny the power of God transform your life, God will laugh at you.

It is way better that we have God as our strong tower.  Proverbs 18:10 The Name of Adonai is a strong tower. The righteous one runs into it and is set safely up high.  There is trouble in the world today, and more trouble coming.  That’s the promise of Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great trouble, such as has not happened since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.  

Let’s not follow a delusion and finish outside of righteousness, looking up to the kingdom of God with no way to enter in.  This takes us to images of the rich man and Lazarus.  Luke 16:26 Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm is firmly set, so that those who want to cross over to you cannot, nor can those from there cross over to us.  Choose wisely my friends.  Shabbat shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri24-July-202610th of Av, 5786
De 5:1-21[18]Ez 331 Ch 121 Th 4 (Jn 3)