RR Psalm 61:1-5 Part 5

Shalom,

Psalm 61:1 For the music director, on string instrument, of David. 2 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. 3 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 4 For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength before the enemy. 5 Let me dwell in Your tent forever. Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Most “kings” desire to dwell in their own palaces forever.  However; here, King David wants more.  He wants to “sojourn” (as a stranger or a guest) in God’s “tent” for all eternity.  God’s “tent” is big, but it’s not that big.  What I mean is that God’s “wings” (which provide shelter) are large enough to accommodate everyone who comes to Him through His Son, but not large enough to accommodate any unrighteousness.

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

We think we know what evil is.  The Scriptures provide us a list.  Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.  There, that should cover it.

Hang on a minute.  Did you read the list carefully?  Many of the listed sins are obvious, sexual immorality, indecency and witchcraft for example.  But, I want to draw your attention to a short list of less obvious sins that are part of the same admonition.  “Hostility, strife, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, and factions” are also on the list.  These tend to be more subtile, but to God they are just as serious.  

This is not a wink wink, “I said the sinner's prayer once, so I must be good” proposition.  Which do you want to hear?  Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a little, so I’ll put you in charge of much. Enter into your master’s joy!’  

Or perhaps something else such as…. Matthew 7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”

What do we hear today from so many pulpits?  “Grace, grace, all you need is grace.  After all, what about ‘just as I am?’”  God has a message for His people.  John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  When we receive Yeshua as Savior and Lord, a process of change begins that will result in our eternal rest in the presence of the King, under the shelter of His wings, also known as His big tent.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue18-Aug 2026 5th of Elul, 5786
De 22:8-23:6[7]Hos 13-142 Ch 4Heb 3 (Jn 19)