Psalm 37

Don't be jealous.

Psalm 37

WEDNESDAY Reflections

According to Aristotle, we have a special emotion implanted in our nature - νέμεσις - which causes us to "fret" when we witness undeserved prosperity ('Rhet.,' 2:9, § 1).  This Psalm reminds us that this undeserved prosperity has its price, but somehow we forget that. This Psalm along with a great many others remind us that this emotion (worry, jealousy, anger, etc.) is wrong.

The people who get undeserved prosperity are actually to be pitied. They are heading toward destruction. We would be just as smart to be jealous of the person in hospice care. They may be treated nice in hospice but they are also going to die. Yet, how often do people get upset or jealous? Too often. This scripture puts things into the right perspective. Those that follow God are always better off. 

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(Rawlinson, et al.)The Pulpit Commentary. pg.283.

Psa 37:1-40
(1)  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
(2)  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
(3)  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(4)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(5)  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(6)  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(7)  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
(8)  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
(9)  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
(10)  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
(11)  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(12)  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
(13)  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
(14)  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
(15)  Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
(16)  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
(17)  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
(18)  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
(19)  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
(20)  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
(21)  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
(22)  For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
(23)  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
(24)  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(25)  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(26)  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
(27)  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
(28)  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
(29)  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
(30)  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
(31)  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(32)  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
(33)  The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
(34)  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
(35)  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
(36)  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
(37)  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
(38)  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
(39)  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(40)  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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Leviticus 6

Keep the fire burning.

Leviticus 6

TUESDAY  Reflections

Albert Barnes said of verse 13: "The fire shall ever be burning - This was a symbol of the never-ceasing worship which Yahweh required of His people" (Barnes, 2019).  This may be and yet there was something special about this fire. This fire as we will see in Leviticus 9 was sent from God. The fire which consumed the sacrifices was not of man's origin it was from God. By keeping the fire going it was as if the same fire was always there taking care of every generation’s sin. Yes, man had a role to play, keeping the fire going, but the fire began with God.  

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Barnes, A. (2019). Retrieved from Biblehub: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/

Lev 6:1-30
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
(3)  Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
(4)  Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
(5)  Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
(6)  And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
(7)  And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
(8)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(9)  Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
(10)  And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
(11)  And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
(12)  And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
(13)  The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
(14)  And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
(15)  And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
(16)  And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
(17)  It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
(18)  All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
(19)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(20)  This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
(21)  In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(22)  And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.
(23)  For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
(24)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(25)  Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
(26)  The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(27)  Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
(28)  But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
(29)  All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
(30)  And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Leviticus 5

Leviticus 5

MONDAY  Reflections

Leviticus 5:17 "If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible."

 

I have noticed that people like to make the claim, “That’s not fair,” though I am amazed how quick they are to dismiss the claim by others, that however, is a discussion for another time. When we look at this verse we see God doesn’t let anyone off the hook, ignorance is not an excuse

 

The one thing God promised his people was if they did all that He commanded, they would live happier and healthier lives. Yet, we don’t see this happening for the Children of Israel. They look just as miserable and unhealthy as everyone else. So what is the deal?

 

I think the deal is that especially when it comes to matters of health, that ignorance doesn’t protect you. Not knowing the wire was live doesn’t protect you from getting electrocuted. Not knowing that the mushroom is poisonous doesn’t keep you from dying. Not know about STDs doesn’t protect you if you sleep around. Not knowing about bacteria doesn’t keep it from spreading. Not realizing that you’re working too hard, avoiding exercise, and not resting enough doesn’t stop the stroke. Not knowing there is a land mine doesn’t keep it from going off. That is the reality of our world.

 

However, aren’t you glad you don’t have to perfectly understand how a car works before it starts, or that you don’t first have to have an electrical degree for electricity to work or be a pharmacist for medicine to work? Or be a dietitian for food to nourish you or a chef for food to taste good? So maybe a knowledge requirement isn’t all it's cracked up to be?

 

So where does this leave us? We need to realize that there are things, both good and bad, which are not a result of divine intervention but a consequence of our or someone else’s actions. Second, we need to know that if it is our fault then we can go to God and ask for forgiveness. Finally, maybe we ought to be glad that life isn't fair and not complain about it.

Lev 5:1-19

(1)  And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

(2)  Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

(3)  Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

(4)  Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

(5)  And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:

(6)  And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

(7)  And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

(8)  And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

(9)  And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.

(10)  And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.

(11)  But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

(12)  Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.

(13)  And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

(14)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

(15)  If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

(16)  And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

(17)  And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

(18)  And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

(19)  It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

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Isaiah 46

Isaiah 46   

SATURDAY  Reflections

Here we see God once again reminding Israel that He is not like the gods others worship. Babylon’s gods are being carried off as treasures like her people. The gods can’t help, and the people can’t rescue their gods (verse 2). Another reminder, God doesn’t need rescuing.

God had rescued them in the past. He has told them what was and is going to happen. Both of these give evidence of God without a miraculous sign. This is like today we have evidence from history both of what took place and the fulfilled prophecies. This gives us reasonable faith, not blind faith. Because if God, showed up in some unquestionable supernatural manifestation then we wouldn’t live by faith but out of fear and this isn’t what God wants it.

Isa 46:1-13

(1)  Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

(2)  They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

(3)  Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

(4)  And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

(5)  To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

(6)  They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

(7)  They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

(8)  Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

(9)  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

(10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

(11)  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

(12)  Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

(13)  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

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Job 41

Job 41  

FRIDAY  Reflections

As I read these questions, I see God saying if you can’t control the mighty things of this earth, how can you hope to understand what I am doing. God is pointing out that we are really powerless and ignorant. For me, the idea is if we can’t control or understand creation how can we possibly understand the creator

Job 41:1-34
(1)  Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
(2)  Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
(3)  Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
(4)  Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
(5)  Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
(6)  Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
(7)  Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
(8)  Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
(9)  Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
(10)  None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
(11)  Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
(12)  I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
(13)  Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
(14)  Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
(15)  His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
(16)  One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
(17)  They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
(18)  By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
(19)  Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
(20)  Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
(21)  His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
(22)  In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
(23)  The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
(24)  His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
(25)  When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
(26)  The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
(27)  He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
(28)  The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
(29)  Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
(30)  Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
(31)  He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
(32)  He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
(33)  Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
(34)  He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.