NOTE: With the exception of verse
5, Psalms 14 and 53 are almost identical. You may want to re-read my meditation
on Psalm 14 (May 14, 2012).
The opening line to Psalms 14
& 53 is widely known: “Only fools say
in their hearts, “There is no God.”
That was then and this is now:
“Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is a God.”
We do live in a world where the
followers of Jesus, the people seeking new life in Christ, are increasingly marginalized.
Even so, as fully devoted followers of Jesus we are interested in the “Applause
of Heaven” (Max Lucado); not the applause of the world’s culture.
I find great comfort in both
Psalm 14 and 53 being included in the Bible, since they are almost identical. (In
Psalm 53, a new verse 5 replaces verses 5-6 in Psalm 14.) Psalm 53 was edited
to respond to a different condition at a different time. (Psalm 14 refers to God
as Yahweh (LORD) and Psalm 53 refers to
God as Elohim (God), thus showing a different time period in the life of
Israel.) The use of military language suggests an enemy of Israel was defeated
in their attack against the people of God. My comfort comes from this evidence
that the Holy Spirit moved within Israel and refashioned previous psalms to
meet a new context. The Holy Spirit works in our lives in similar ways. The
Holy Spirit interprets scripture to meet our needs in the context of our
everyday life.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews
13:8) means that God is steadfastly and continually moving in our lives, “giving you the desire and the power to do
what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).
Sē’lah
<>< <><
<>< <><
What word or phrase
in today’s reading of the Psalms
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word
or phrase.
What insights come to
you?
How does this passage
touch your life today?
<>< <><
<>< <><
These meditations are available
by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com
to be added to the email list.
This BLOG is also available
on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.
Reading for June 24,
2012 Psalm 54
No comments:
Post a Comment