Scripture Read:  Psalm 81, 82

Key Verse:  Psalm 82:8

“Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!.”

Observation:

This Psalm almost seems like a doomsday blog. The first couple verses ask those who are the ministers of how long they will be wicked and corrupt.  We see that as of late, there are those who are corrupt, and show favor to those who shouldn’t, and let those who need it just pass on by.  Then from v. 3-4, it shows what they should be doing, which is the exact opposite of what some of them were doing before, and should be doing, it’s being just. In the next verse, it starts by saying “they”, and that isn’t about the people that are weak and fatherless, but about the “gods” and that they don’t know what they are doing, and it’s like walking in the dark, one has no idea where they are going.  In v. 6-7, you see the justice of God that those who are corrupt will die like men.  The last verse is one of hope, like a prayer, wanting God to come down and to judge the earth, for he is just.

Application:

When I read Psalms like this, talking about how God is just, it really causes me to slow down and think about what that really means, to be just.  The definition that comes to mind of justice is the reward and/or penalty that is deserved.  And when I think about what I really deserve, it kind of scares me of what that is.  I know what that is, because the penalty of sin is death, but it still scares me regardless.  But to know that God sent his only son to die on a cross for my sins so I wouldn’t have to, man oh man, pretty awesome.  I’m a sinful person, and sometimes I try and fit God into a box that I created, but because of my sinful nature there is absolutely no way that I can get God to fit into a box that I created.  And because God is good, He is the one that sets those standards for us, and he is the eternal judge.  It’s funny for me that I think about how much God hates sin, but He loves us even more.  And the enemy is constantly working at ways to make us think that the scales are tipped out of our favor, but it couldn’t be more wrong.  An interesting quote that I ran across was “the enemy isn’t afraid of me, but he sure as anything is afraid of the guy behind me.” Wow, I have no power, but the God I serve, is all-mighty and all-powerful, and He will judge those who need to be judged, which pretty much happens to be everyone.  We deserve death for our sin, but His son’s sacrifice balanced the scales of judgment.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you for being all-powerful, all knowing, but also that you are just.  There are so many things that we deserve, but I thank you for the sacrifice Jesus made for me.  I pray that every step I take, every conversation that I have, every interaction that I have, is with the authority of you Jesus.  As we continue in reading Your word, and hearing Your voice, I pray that it is with open hearts and open minds.  May we be constantly reminded of what You have done, what You are saving us from and what you are calling us to.

By Tim 217staff team