November 19, 2024

“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” ps 119:89 nkjv   What comes to your mind when you read scriptures like these… “forever,” and “truth,” come up many times in the Bible. Actually, I think as is presented in the scriptures, we should consider them having no beginning or end, it just is, and has always been, and always will be. Thankfully, it comforts me knowing this, I hope it comforts you as well.

For this devotional, I want to focus on the Book of Psalms. Most bible references I have studied say the Psalms were compiled over a period of 900 to 1,100 years. The central emphasis to my point today is that David [around 1000 BC] wrote many of the Psalms in his lifetime. I think his “Psalms,” express nearly all the emotions, thoughts, disappointments, joys, anger, and other human life experiences that, even today, resonate with us at some time and experience along life’s way. The key point is, David connects his humanity with Yahweh’s sovereign and divine Lordship in unique ways so that we can understand better how to relate to Yahweh ourselves. I don’t think there is any kind of human issue that cannot be better understood than viewing it through the lessons and sentiment written in the Psalms. Now if you don’t believe Yahweh has the sole authority for defining truth, righteousness, and justice, then you will likely continue to wander through the valley of confusion until you find out that you are not God.

Let’s examine the first three chapters of Psalms; Psalms 1  contrasts the two ways of life [there are only two, God’s way and the world’s way], both are products of “seed” which yields fruit after its own kind. The first thing written tells us that “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,” and I view this as their being two types of people, “Godly vs ungodly.” The difference is which “seed” is working in one’s heart… remember the parable of the sower and the wheat and the tares… etc. The Psalm goes on to explain the Godly man.

In contrast, now it says, “The ungodly are not so,” and goes on to explain the ungodly man. Then we read:

“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” ps 1:6 nkjv   With this statement, we can conclude the righteous man does not perish. Seems this would be a better choice for living one’s life.

Psalm 2,  immediately defines the continuum of man’s raging and plotting vain things against Yahweh and his Messiah… which draws a laughing response from “He who sits in the heavens.” Clearly, in Psalm 2  we have the summation of man’s futile efforts on display and the tragic fate of the wicked… but, verse 10-11-12 warn the wicked to shape up or perish; and then saying “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him [Yahweh].”

Now comes Psalms 3… David is said to have written this Psalm when he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom, who fully intended to overthrow him… it is written:

“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah

“3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

“5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

The way of human life will never change… each generation simply repeats itself from one time frame to another. But notice that Psalm 1  begins the book with defining a Godly man, and then compares him to a ungodly man… that man, if making a Godly choice has a future; but even during his life there will be evil and wicked people raging against Yahweh as noted in Psalm 2…  and that Godly man will likely face suffering and troubles, sometimes with his own family, as noted in Psalm 3.  But… his answer is not escape from the world, but that his refuge is to place his faith and choices in the way of Yahweh's law [Torah]. Which is the good seed:

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” Yeshua speaking in Luke 8:11.

I have come to the place I am in life [will be 82 next week, God willing], convinced that its not my skills, intellect, talents,learning, and experiences, etc., that have brought me to where I am today. It is that Yahweh [our time keeper] has led me and nudged me along life’s way for a plan and purpose that He originated and exercised in my life. I have truly embraced the “good seed” and tried to walk in His ways. I have not been perfect in my responsibility and faithfulness. I have been through good and bad times, and have had many ups and downs… I have experienced the message in these three Psalms, except for having my kids trying to overthrow me. On the contrary, they have been a great blessing to me.

What is it in life that perhaps you are struggling with, looking for answers to, or just trying to get better adjusted to? To me the Psalms  are a great treasury of answers to difficult issues. And if you seek the delight of the Torah and meditate in it, [ps 1:2],   I think the promise in it yields the fruit of its good seed. It is interesting to me that the first three chapters of Psalms seem to show us an outline of life… visible only through the Word you see it through.

Shalom, John