POPULARITY
Categories
Series: PerspectiveWeek: 1Scripture: Psalm 73:1-17Preacher: Kenneth Gray
Psalm 73 is a psalm from a believer who is doubting God. He confesses some things about God to be true, but his experience says something different. In the end, he's comforted by this truth, that distance from God is death, but nearness to God is safety and a life of praise. This nearness to God is through the Lord Jesus Christ alone. In this Psalm we get a glimpse of how Christ was ruthlessly tempted to doubt God and abandon his mission. And yet he persevered in order to draw us close to God.
At this time of war in Israel, you may wonder why and how the evil leaders of Hamas are sitting pretty in their luxurious abodes in Qatar without a care in the world watching it all from afar. Well, back in Israel's early days, a guy named Asaph wondered the same thing. At first, he wondered why, but then cried to God. Let's dig in... Follow along in my blog… https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2023/11/19/psalm-73-if-god-is-good-why-do-evil-arrogant-people-prosper/ If you want a true relationship with Jesus, pray this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly… “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I surrender my whole life to you and I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.” Or visit: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/how-to-invite-jesus-into-your-heart/ Great Christian Book Picks that Make Great Gifts! Check out the Bookstore: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/recommended-christian-books/ Check out the Christian Book Pick of the Month! Best Study Bibles — another Great Gift Idea! https://seekthegospeltruth.com/best-study-bibles-for-beginners/ (A Christianbook Affiliate) Free ebook to help reach your Catholic friends and relatives: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/catholic-mission-field-in-our-backyards/ Follow me… Twitter: https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/truthofthegoodnews/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/ Telegram: https://t.me/seekingthegospeltruth Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/giselleaguiar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giselleaguiar.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seekthegospeltruth/ Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seek-the-truth/message
Datum: 28 juni 2023Kerk van God Ministerieel van Jezus Christus InternationaalBezoek voor meer Bijbelstudies onze website:Zuster Maria Luisa PiraquiveHomeNieuwsGetuigenissen
Proper 26 First Psalm: Psalm 69 Psalm 69 (Listen) Save Me, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David. 69 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.12 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. 4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.10 When I wept and humbled2 my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. 13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.17 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! 19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. 22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.323 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.428 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. 29 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.32 When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.33 For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it;36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it. Footnotes [1] 69:1 Or waters threaten my life [2] 69:10 Hebrew lacks and humbled [3] 69:22 Hebrew; a slight revocalization yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome) a snare, and retribution and a trap [4] 69:27 Hebrew may they not come into your righteousness (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 73 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) Old Testament: Ezra 7:27–28; Ezra 8:21–36 Ezra 7:27–28 (Listen) 27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (ESV) Ezra 8:21–36 (Listen) Fasting and Prayer for Protection 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. Priests to Guard Offerings 24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents1 of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents,2 and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics,3 and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the LORD.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God. 31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded. 35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps4 and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God. Footnotes [1] 8:26 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [2] 8:26 Revocalization; the number is missing in the Masoretic Text [3] 8:27 A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams [4] 8:36 A satrap was a Persian official (ESV) New Testament: Revelation 15 Revelation 15 (Listen) The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!14 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent2 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Footnotes [1] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages [2] 15:5 Or tabernacle (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 14:13–21 Matthew 14:13–21 (Listen) Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (ESV)
Psalm 73:28 discussion "Reminders for the Road"
Asaph Looks Through the Lens of Relationship (Psalm 73:21-28) by Sun Valley Church
Sunday 5th November 2023 | Psalm 73 | Ray Frangakis
Richard spoke to us at all 3 services this week from Psalm 73 - where he spoke about envy and trusting in the lord!
Asaph Looks Through the Wrong Lens (Psalm 73:1-20) by Sun Valley Church
My reading and interpretation of Psalm 73 and nearby Psalms. DIGITAL CONFERENCE - THIRD EDITION Saturday November 11 9am-5pm Pacific on Zoom https://renofmen.com/conference Use code RENOFMEN for $5 off THE RENAISSANCE MENTORSHIP https://renofmen.com/mentorship SPONSOR Reformation Coffee.com Use code SUBFREE for one free 12oz. bag with subscription LINKS https://x.com/renofmen https://instagram.com/renofmen https://youtube.com/@renofmen https://renofmen.com
Evening Devotional on Psalm 73:13 preached on October 22, 2023 by Nathan Lugbill.
Message from Stephan Gustavsson on October 22, 2023
Morning: Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 34:4; Psalm 76:10; Psalm 130:5–6; Proverbs 3:26; Proverbs 16:7; Proverbs 21:1; Jeremiah 17:7; Romans 8:31 The Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.—The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.—When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.—I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy.”—“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Deuteronomy 33:27 (Listen) 27 The eternal God is your dwelling place,1 and underneath are the everlasting arms.2 And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.' Footnotes [1] 33:27 Or a dwelling place [2] 33:27 Revocalization of verse 27 yields He subdues the ancient gods, and shatters the forces of old (ESV) Psalm 34:4 (Listen) 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (ESV) Psalm 76:10 (Listen) 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant1 of wrath you will put on like a belt. Footnotes [1] 76:10 Or extremity (ESV) Psalm 130:5–6 (Listen) 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. (ESV) Proverbs 3:26 (Listen) 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (ESV) Proverbs 16:7 (Listen) 7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (ESV) Proverbs 21:1 (Listen) 21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (ESV) Jeremiah 17:7 (Listen) 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. (ESV) Romans 8:31 (Listen) God's Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be1 against us? Footnotes [1] 8:31 Or who is (ESV) Evening: Job 14:1–2; Psalm 73:26; John 14:16; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Philippians 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 Encouragement in Christ,… comfort from love,… participation in the Spirit. “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.”—My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. “The Father… will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…. The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name.”— Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep…. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Job 14:1–2 (Listen) Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All 14 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not. (ESV) Psalm 73:26 (Listen) 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength1 of my heart and my portion forever. Footnotes [1] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) John 14:16 (Listen) 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,1 to be with you forever, Footnotes [1] 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 (ESV) John 14:26 (Listen) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV) 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (Listen) God of All Comfort 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (ESV) Philippians 2:1 (Listen) Christ's Example of Humility 2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (Listen) 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 (Listen) 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV)
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 73 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 1 Kings 8:1–21 1 Kings 8:1–21 (Listen) The Ark Brought into the Temple 8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 8 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Solomon Blesses the Lord 12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD1 has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 13 I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 14 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 15 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.' 17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.' 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Footnotes [1] 8:12 Septuagint The Lord has set the sun in the heavens, but (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Ezekiel 35 Ezekiel 35 (Listen) Prophecy Against Mount Seir 35 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, 6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 10 “Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them'—although the LORD was there—11 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you. 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD. “I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.' 13 And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. 14 Thus says the Lord GOD: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Romans 6 Romans 6 (Listen) Dead to Sin, Alive to God 6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self1 was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free2 from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Slaves to Righteousness 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,3 you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Footnotes [1] 6:6 Greek man [2] 6:7 Greek has been justified [3] 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20 (ESV)
How can a good God let wicked people prosper and godly people suffer? This was the problem that was plaguing Asaph, the author of Psalm 73. It is a problem that plagues many people today. Asaph is trying to get the facts of faith to measure up to the facts of life. In Psalm 73, Asaph walks us through the process of dealing with envy. He tells us what he acknowledged, what he expected, what he saw, what he felt, what he did, what he discovered, and what he decided. This psalm is incredibly practical and it will give you insight into how to deal with envy, self-pity, and bitterness.
Morning: Lamentations 3:26; Romans 5:3–4; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17; Hebrews 10:34–36; James 1:4; 1 Peter 1:6–7 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.—You knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.—Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts. Lamentations 3:26 (Listen) 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (ESV) Romans 5:3–4 (Listen) 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (ESV) 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (Listen) 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV) Hebrews 10:34–36 (Listen) 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (ESV) James 1:4 (Listen) 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV) 1 Peter 1:6–7 (Listen) 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV) Evening: Psalm 26:2; Psalm 38:9; Psalm 50:21; Psalm 73:11; Luke 12:2; John 5:22; John 5:27; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 2:18 God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.—“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son…. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”—“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The Son of God… has eyes like a flame of fire.” And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”—“These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.”—“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.—Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. Psalm 26:2 (Listen) 2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.1 Footnotes [1] 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart (ESV) Psalm 38:9 (Listen) 9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. (ESV) Psalm 50:21 (Listen) 21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I1 was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. Footnotes [1] 50:21 Or that the I am (ESV) Psalm 73:11 (Listen) 11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” (ESV) Luke 12:2 (Listen) 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (ESV) John 5:22 (Listen) 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (ESV) John 5:27 (Listen) 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. (ESV) Romans 2:16 (Listen) 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 4:5 (Listen) 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (ESV) Revelation 2:18 (Listen) To the Church in Thyatira 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. (ESV)
Morning: Psalm 26:8; Psalm 65:4; Psalm 73:28; Psalm 84:10; Isaiah 30:18; Lamentations 3:25; Hebrews 10:19–20; Hebrews 10:22 For me it is good to be near God. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.—For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.—Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.—Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us,… let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Psalm 26:8 (Listen) 8 O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. (ESV) Psalm 65:4 (Listen) 4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! (ESV) Psalm 73:28 (Listen) 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (ESV) Psalm 84:10 (Listen) 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (ESV) Isaiah 30:18 (Listen) The Lord Will Be Gracious 18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. (ESV) Lamentations 3:25 (Listen) 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. (ESV) Hebrews 10:19–20 (Listen) The Full Assurance of Faith 19 Therefore, brothers,1 since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, Footnotes [1] 10:19 Or brothers and sisters (ESV) Hebrews 10:22 (Listen) 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (ESV) Evening: Psalm 34:8; Psalm 45:2; Song of Solomon 2:3; Luke 4:22; John 1:14; John 3:11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 2:3; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 John 5:10 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.—You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips.—All spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.—You have tasted that the Lord is good.—Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.—“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen.” Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!—With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”—Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.—As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. Psalm 34:8 (Listen) 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (ESV) Psalm 45:2 (Listen) 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. (ESV) Song of Solomon 2:3 (Listen) She 3 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (ESV) Luke 4:22 (Listen) 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” (ESV) John 1:14 (Listen) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son1 from the Father, full of grace and truth. Footnotes [1] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One (ESV) John 3:11 (Listen) 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you1 do not receive our testimony. Footnotes [1] 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 (ESV) 2 Corinthians 8:9 (Listen) 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV) 2 Corinthians 12:9 (Listen) 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV) Ephesians 4:7 (Listen) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (ESV) 1 Peter 2:3 (Listen) 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV) 1 Peter 4:10 (Listen) 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (ESV) 1 John 5:10 (Listen) 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. (ESV)
In this sermon, Pastor Ron Jones warns us of the slippery slope of sin, the danger of envy, and how to avoid these destructive paths. Learn more in this sermon presented to Hillside Baptist Church in Eastman, GA on 9/25/23. www.hillsideeastman.com
With family: 2 Samuel 18; 2 Corinthians 11 2 Samuel 18 (Listen) Absalom Killed 18 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.” 3 But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.” 4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom. 6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword. 9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak,1 and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.' 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life2 (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him. 16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument3 to this day. David Hears of Absalom's Death 19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king's son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” 23 “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. 25 The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. 26 The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” 27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.” 28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” 29 And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” 30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. David's Grief 31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” 33 4 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Footnotes [1] 18:9 Or terebinth; also verses 10, 14 [2] 18:13 Or at the risk of my life [3] 18:18 Or Absalom's hand [4] 18:33 Ch 19:1 in Hebrew (ESV) 2 Corinthians 11 (Listen) Paul and the False Apostles 11 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle 16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would1 but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,2 in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands. Footnotes [1] 11:17 Greek not according to the Lord [2] 11:27 Or often in fasting (ESV) In private: Psalm 73; Ezekiel 25 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) Ezekiel 25 (Listen) Prophecy Against Ammon 25 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, ‘Aha!' over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon1 a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 6 For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Prophecy Against Moab and Seir 8 “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir2 said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,' 9 therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. 10 I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations, 11 and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Prophecy Against Edom 12 “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, 13 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord GOD. Prophecy Against Philistia 15 “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, 16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance upon them.” Footnotes [1] 25:5 Hebrew and the Ammonites [2] 25:8 Septuagint lacks and Seir (ESV)
Proper 19 First Psalm: Psalm 69 Psalm 69 (Listen) Save Me, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David. 69 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.12 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. 4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.10 When I wept and humbled2 my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. 13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.17 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! 19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. 22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.323 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.428 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. 29 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.32 When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.33 For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it;36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it. Footnotes [1] 69:1 Or waters threaten my life [2] 69:10 Hebrew lacks and humbled [3] 69:22 Hebrew; a slight revocalization yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome) a snare, and retribution and a trap [4] 69:27 Hebrew may they not come into your righteousness (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 73 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) Old Testament: 2 Kings 1:2–17 2 Kings 1:2–17 (Listen) 2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'” So Elijah went. 5 The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'” 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” 9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.'” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king's order, ‘Come down quickly!'” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king 16 and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'” 17 So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. (ESV) New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3:16–23 1 Corinthians 3:16–23 (Listen) 16 Do you not know that you1 are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Footnotes [1] 3:16 The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17 (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 5:11–16 Matthew 5:11–16 (Listen) 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that1 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Footnotes [1] 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that (ESV)
Walk with us through Psalm 73 at Into the Word, a radio and online program committed to reading, loving, and living the whole Counsel of God. In this program we will work our way chapter by chapter through the whole Bible. Our host and Bible teacher for this adventure is Pastor Paul Carter. If you are interested in additional resources or previous episodes in the series, you can find those at https://intotheword.ca/. If you would like to support the program or our monthly mission partner, you can do so at https://intotheword.ca/how-to-support-the-into-the-word-podcast-bible-commentary. To connect with our Bible readers and Into the Word listeners, connect with us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/In2theWord
Listen as Caleb share from Psalm 73 our greatest problem, the solution, and what it means for us.
Old Testament: Proverbs 25–26 Proverbs 25–26 (Listen) More Proverbs of Solomon 25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great,7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen8 do not hastily bring into court,1 for2 what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.328 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.411 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.23 Like the glaze5 covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Footnotes [1] 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court [2] 25:8 Hebrew or else [3] 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain [4] 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby [5] 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross (ESV) New Testament: Titus 3:1–8 Titus 3:1–8 (Listen) Be Ready for Every Good Work 3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 73 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 23:29–35 Proverbs 23:29–35 (Listen) 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.135 “They struck me,” you will say,2 “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.” Footnotes [1] 23:34 Or of the rigging [2] 23:35 Hebrew lacks you will say (ESV)
Old Testament: Proverbs 25–26 Proverbs 25–26 (Listen) More Proverbs of Solomon 25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great,7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen8 do not hastily bring into court,1 for2 what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.328 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.411 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.23 Like the glaze5 covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Footnotes [1] 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court [2] 25:8 Hebrew or else [3] 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain [4] 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby [5] 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 73 Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.111 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) New Testament: John 15 John 15 (Listen) I Am the True Vine 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,1 for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. The Hatred of the World 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,2 but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.' 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. Footnotes [1] 15:15 Or bondservants, or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface); likewise for servant later in this verse and in verse 20 [2] 15:22 Greek they would not have sin; also verse 24 (ESV)
Listen as Caleb share from Psalm 73 our greatest problem, the solution, and what it means for us.
Message from Oscar Navarro on September 10, 2023
God is worthy of all our trust, worship, and devotion.
Morning: Psalm 81:10; Isaiah 41:17; Isaiah 55:2; Matthew 5:6; Luke 1:53; John 6:35; Revelation 3:17–19 “He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.” “You say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich…. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”—When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.—I am the Lord your God…. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”—“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Psalm 81:10 (Listen) 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (ESV) Isaiah 41:17 (Listen) 17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. (ESV) Isaiah 55:2 (Listen) 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. (ESV) Matthew 5:6 (Listen) 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (ESV) Luke 1:53 (Listen) 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. (ESV) John 6:35 (Listen) 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV) Revelation 3:17–19 (Listen) 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (ESV) Evening: Job 5:19; Psalm 37:24; Psalm 73:2; Psalm 94:18; Proverbs 24:16; Micah 7:8; Luke 22:31–32; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1 My feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” The righteous falls seven times and rises again.—Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.—“He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.” If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.—Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Job 5:19 (Listen) 19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil1 shall touch you. Footnotes [1] 5:19 Or disaster (ESV) Psalm 37:24 (Listen) 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. (ESV) Psalm 73:2 (Listen) 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. (ESV) Psalm 94:18 (Listen) 18 When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. (ESV) Proverbs 24:16 (Listen) 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. (ESV) Micah 7:8 (Listen) 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. (ESV) Luke 22:31–32 (Listen) Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,1 that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Footnotes [1] 22:31 The Greek word for you (twice in this verse) is plural; in verse 32, all four instances are singular (ESV) Hebrews 7:25 (Listen) 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost1 those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Footnotes [1] 7:25 That is, completely; or at all times (ESV) 1 John 2:1 (Listen) Christ Our Advocate 2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (ESV)
Tune in to the show weekly at 8 pm mst on HGR 2. Pastor Bob Simons would love to have you participate in the live discussion. New Life Pentecostal Church in Dickenson ND invites you to tune in and participate by texting Pastor Simons at 701 290 7862.
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...” (Psalm 73) Part 3 of 3 Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture. Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com Donate: www.walkintruth.com Walk in Truth is a Living Truth Christian Fellowship Ministry Produced by Newton Productions
Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast
Adventurous Living - The Meadow Springs Community Church Podcast
Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the prosperity of those the scriptures refer to as wicked? Why are we prone to envy one's power, position and wealth? What does Ps. 73 say about those who will find ruin and those who will find refuge?
Pastor Kevin looks at Psalm 73 in the final message of our Summer in The Psalms Series. The Psalmist tells of a time of intense testing of faith in which he questioned the goodness of God. Psalm 73 expands our vision of God's goodness and his purposes so that we may trust in him. in the end Justice will prevail. God is our portion. All will be well.
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...” (Psalm 73) Part 2 of 3 Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture. Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com Donate: www.walkintruth.com Walk in Truth is a Living Truth Christian Fellowship Ministry Produced by Newton Productions
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...” (Psalm 73) Part 1 of 3 Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture. Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com Donate: www.walkintruth.com Walk in Truth is a Living Truth Christian Fellowship Ministry Produced by Newton Productions