Tag Archives: the book of Psalms

July 28
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“Lord, reveal to me the end of my life and the number of my days. Let me know how short-lived I am. You, indeed, have made my days short in length, and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. Selah.” (Psalms 39:4-5, HCSB)

It may hurt our ego to think of ourselves as vapors; a wisp of life; appearing then disappearing in the blink of an eye, but against the vast backdrop of time and human history, that is what we are.

Yet, too often we act as if we are going to inhabit the earth indefinitely.  We ignore the wisdom of the bumper sticker: “Life is short. Eternity is long.”

In today’s scripture, David asked God to remind him of the brevity of this life. Indeed, as believers in Jesus, we do have life after life.  But let the reality of our small, short, life-span — and the reminder of each day’s obituaries — provoke us to be recklessly gracious to others; increasingly shrewd in our evaluation of the things that shall pass and the things that shall endure; and more obedient to our heavenly Father in all things.  – Luther

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July 27
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“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.” (Psalm 36:5-6, NIV)

When we take the time to look around us, it is easy to be impressed by God’s virtuosity.  The twinkling stars and other heavenly bodies mystify and fascinate us as much today as they did in David’s time.  On earth, the plants of the earth purify the air we breath, delight our eyes with their buds and flowers, and nourish our bodies as food.  We also have a common Creator with all of the animals, whether wild or domesticated — and He preserves all.

Beware of becoming a “practical atheist” through inattention to all that is around us.  Look up; look around — and believe.   –  Luther

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July 25
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“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.”  (Psalm 37:1-2, NIV)

Today’s scripture from the psalms reminds us of two important things: (1) To not fret because of the deeds of evil people; and (2) to not be envious of those who prosper in wrong-doing.

Sadly, there are some in our society who promote lawlessness.

Worse still, there are others who envy the fruit of lawlessness (e. g. wealth, fame, influence). For these individuals, the adage, “crime doesn’t pay,” is not supported by the evidence.

The scripture reminds us not to fret because of such people.  Yes, they are a source of senseless pain.  Yes, they do destroy and leave nothing in its place. Do not fret, we are told, because they will not ensure.

God has not forgotten the righteous.  In the meantime, in the words of John Wesley (1703-1791): “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”  – Luther

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