Psalm 53 “The Fool”

"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.” (v.1)

There is something very fresh and current about Psalm 53. Though David penned this psalm in about 1000 BC, he is describing today’s world. The fools of the world (the atheists) are still busy spouting their lies, “There is no God.” Though the fool observes that there is no God, it is God’s observations on mankind that strike me as being more accurate: They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

When God is taken out of the picture, corruption runs rampant, and no set of laws or regulations will change that. The problem is not laws or regulations; the problem is the state of a person’s heart. Without the love and fear of God, restraint is cast off and everyone does what is right in their own eyes. (See Judges 21:25.) Thus, the fool doesn’t stop at claiming there is no God, but takes matters to the next logical step. In the absence of God, he asserts that he is god, seeing himself as is the master of his own domain and not accountable to anyone else.

Just as David speaks of the universal corruption of man here in Psalm 53, the Apostle Paul in talking to the Jews of his day, quoted this psalm to remind them, “there is none righteous”, which includes those who had the promise of God (Romans 3:9-12). Therefore, we all need to guard against thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, for there are no degrees of sin - sin is sin. Scripture tells us that, “Whom the Lord loves, He also chastens” (Hebrews 12:6). Meaning, God will get the attention of the sinning believer to bring about repentance and renew fellowship with Him. But, to those who deny Him, their sin is unto death both physical and spiritual. Thus earning the label, “the fool”.

The answer then is to get smart and recognize there is a God who created all things and can keep your soul from hell.

 The Truth: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

Psalm 52 “Vengeance Belongs to God"

"But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, And uproot you from the land of the living.” (v.5)

In Psalm 52 we find David on the run from Saul. While fleeing, he stopped by the town of Nob to pick up supplies and guidance from Ahimelech the priest. Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s “head shepherd,” spotted David in the temple and reported Ahimelech’s apparent treason to Saul--who then ordered his soldiers to go to Nob and kill the priests. Saul’s men would eventually refuse the order, but Doeg would put them to death. He killed 85 priests and decimated the entire town (1 Sam. 22:9-23). Psalm 52 is David’s outcry against Doeg’s action. 

The consequence of Doeg's evil, are spelled out in verses 5–7, to his ultimate ruin. He will be torn from his tent by God, brought down, uprooted from the living--when he least expects it. His trust in wealth and his destruction of others will prove to be false strongholds (v. 7), and the righteous, confident in God’s power, will laugh at the unmasking of his weakness.

This Psalm contrasts the temporary “power” of the man who trusts in himself for his own security and would stop at nothing for personal gain, with the eternal security of the man who trusts in the Lord’s unfailing love. David, though on the run and from many who sought to kill him, envisioned himself as, “a securely rooted olive tree, flourishing in the house of God” (v. 8). What a contrast between trusting in the abundance of riches and in the mercy of God! As we see in our text, the former will take wings and be gone; but the latter is forever (Psalm 52:1).

In spite of what the wicked do around us, it is so very important that we pray for their salvation. We know their end; we know that God will deal with them. No matter how much we want them to pay for what they have done (and they will), we must remember that we would be right there with them except for the grace of God.

The Truth: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Psalm 51 "David’s Prayer of Confession”

"Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” (v.1)

The background for today’s reading is King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah (see 2 Sam. 11–12). His eventual confession, prompted by a confrontation with the prophet Nathan, is recorded in today’s psalm. It shows great faith in God’s character: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (v. 1), and also demonstrates trust in God’s power to forgive sin--to blot it out and wash the sinner clean (v. 7). David's prayer also demonstrates spiritual brokenness. He understood how much he offended God; in fact, he couldn’t forget it. He grieved deeply over what he’d done--it was as though his bones had been crushed. He acknowledged the justice of God’s punishment, which is no light statement considering that the penalty of his sin was the death of his baby son (2 Samuel 12:14).

This story reminds us of two facts concerning sin; 1) "If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness” and 2) though forgiven, sin still has consequences. Here in our text we see that David's forgiveness was not just a matter of patting David on the head and sending him on our way. There was a cost, the sickness and eventual death of the child born to David through Bathsheba, and later in life multiple family issues, which is another story for another time.

The important thing to take away from this Psalm is that sin is destructive, and carries with it an eternal death sentence. But, repentance is constructive, which comes out of Godly sorrow, and leads to salvation. Therefore, search your heart continually and confess your sin to Him who is able to forgive, cleans, and blot out your transgressions.

The Truth: “For Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

2 Peter 3 “The Lord is Longsuffering”

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (v.9)

Verses 1-9 of this chapter cover the subject of the Lord and His delay. Early in this first section Peter is reminding the brethren that the prophets, the apostles, and even Jesus himself said, “in the last days there shall come in scoffers saying, where is the promise of his coming” (vv.1-4)? He then goes on to remind the brethren that there was another time in human history when men scoffed, during the time of Noah (vv.5-6). Day after day while he was constructing the Ark, Noah heard the voices of the scoffers (for over 100 years), then came the rain, and the skeptic voices changed to pleas of salvation. Peter goes on to encourage the brethren that God is still in control (v.7) and waits in a realm where a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (v.8). 

Therefore, He is not slack concerning His promised return, for its only been a few days (in His realm). And like the catastrophic flood of Noah’s day, so He has delayed His second coming - giving man time to repent again, not willing that any should perish. So, take advantage of His long-suffering today and come to Jesus, before the “Return of the King.”

The Truth: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

2 Peter 2 “The LORD Delivers The Godly”

“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” (v.9)

Chapter 2 has been described as both a warning and an encouragement by Peter to those he cares about. He warns concerning; false teachers, and the bringing of damnable heresies that deny the Lord (vv.1-2), he warns against those who would make merchandise of God’s people (v.3), against those who live ungodly lives and walk after the flesh (vv.5-6), against those who despise government, and speak evil of dignitaries (v.10), and he warns of the judgment that awaits those who partake of theses things. 

But, Peter also encourages his flock that God knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations, out of judgment, and out of destruction, as He did with Lot and his family, and Noah and his family (vv.5-6). And I believe, along with many others, this also speaks to how God will deliver His church from the great tribulation described in Revelation 6-19, in an event called “The Rapture.” Then, as in times past, “He will pour out His wrath and the unjust shall be punished.” 

The Truth: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

2 Peter 1 ”Moved by The Spirit”

"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (v.21)

Where did Scripture come from? What is the basis of our faith in the Bible and the Gospel? Peter wants us to realize that the prophets of ancient times didn't make up their own private stories. Instead, they only moved and responded to what God was doing in them, not what they themselves wanted to do or say. They were human, but their message was God's word because the Holy Spirit moved them to speak and guided their words. This makes what we have in Scripture from the prophets more than precious, for we are given the very words of God!

One thousand years before Jesus Christ came, men of old, prophets, were moved by the Holy Spirit to post prophetic signs that would point to Him as the Messiah. Moved by the Spirit men like David, Isaiah, Micah, Zecharaiah, and Malachi wrote of the following events; “The Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced” (Psalm 22:16); “The Messiah would not open His mouth to defend Himself” (Isaiah 53:7); “The Messiah would be buried in the tomb of a rich man, though He was destined for burial with the wicked” (Isaiah 53:9); “The Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem: (Micah 5:2); “The Messiah would ride into the Holy City on the back of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9); “He would be betrayed by a friend for thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12); and that the silver would be used to buy a potters field (Zechariah 11:13); The Messiah would have a “forerunner announcing His coming” (Malachi 3:1). 

These are but eight of the 300 prophecies recorded in the Scriptures of the Messiah before He appeared. The “Law of Compound Probabilities” tells us that the chances of one man fulfilling these eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 28 power. In other words 1 in 100000000000000000000000000000 - Or as Pastor Chuck use to say, “You could cover the state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, mark one of them with a red X, tell a friend to wonder around the state and choose one silver dollar. Those are the odds of any one person fulfilling just eight of the 300 prophecies, yet Jesus fulfilled them all. Thus proving beyond any doubt that, "prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but it came from God through the Holy Spirit."

It seems that Peter understood that his (and the other apostles’ writings) would carry the same weight as the words of the prophets and that he knew they were writing Holy Scripture (2 Peter 1:12-15; 2 Peter 3:16). Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Peter and the other authors of the books of the New Testament were careful to write only what God inspired through the Holy Spirit as well. 

Men die, experiences fade, but the Word endures. As our world grows darker, His Word shines brighter, and I thank God for the truth of the Scriptures. 

The Truth: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)

1 Peter 5 “Marks of a True Shepherd”

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (vv.1-4) 

What are the marks of a true shepherd? Our text describes four - attitude, purpose, manner, and accountibility. True shepherds do their work with an attitude of willingness, not out of a sense of obligation (v. 2a). Second, the true shepherd's purpose is to serve others, rather than leading in order to serve one's own needs (v. 2b). Third, we see that a true leader does not “lord it over” others, seeking power and authority; rather, they offer a humble “example to the flock” (v. 3). Finally, a true shepherd of God's flock will always remember that there is a Chief Shepherd to whom they are accountable as well (v. 4). 

Ultimately, it is Christ's church, not ours. And Christ is the true Shepherd of His people. Therefore, any leader of Christ's church is only an under-shepherd (a steward) of that one great “Shepherd and Overseer of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25). 

The Truth: "Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

1 Peter 4 “Christian Love”

“Keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (vv. 9-10)

What does true Christian love look like? It's a life of service. Scripture calls us to a life of deep love for others. Rather than seeking to expose the faults of others, we should strive to cover those faults with a generous forgiveness and a welcoming hospitality (vv. 8-9). Knowing we are loved and welcomed by God, we should in turn offer love and welcome to others.

Love is more than just feelings and forgiveness; it involves tangible actions as well. Whatever gifts we've been given (and Scripture says that each of us has some gift), we are to use them to serve others. Whether it be comforting words in a time of great need, or a anonymous gift in a time of hardship, our life should be an act of service that operates out of God's gifts to us, and for His glory (vv. 10-11). 

So while our days on this earth grow shorter every day, that knowledge should sharpen our focus on the things that matter most: honoring God by loving and serving one another.

The Truth: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13)