- araratchurch
- Mar 22, 2022
- 2 min read
“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.” Psalms 7:14-16 NKJV
I don’t know if phrases about “getting a taste of your own medicine,” are still in common usage, but I heard it a lot growing up. When you heard it, you knew what it meant: something that someone had done to someone else, a way in which they had treated someone else, some deceit, and so on, had come back on that person; now they were having to eat what they had dished out (to use another idiom). The most well known example of such a thing happening in terms of the Bible, is the story of Haman. He built gallows on which Mordecai was to be hung. But it turned out being used for him and his household. (The complete story is found in the Book of Esther.)
“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Luke 6:31 NKJV
“For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Matthew 7:2 NKJV
If you take these two scriptures—taken from the words of Jesus—you pretty much can understand God‘s philosophy in terms of our dealings with others. It may, at times, seem that He doesn’t see what people are doing. But He does see and He does turn the plans of the wicked back on themselves.
I have recently seen, not only individuals, but countries having to face their own medicine. It is a tragic sight to see.
It’s hard to be patient when you are in the position of being done wrong or dealt with deceitfully. You may feel that retribution can’t come fast enough. But God, being the perfect Judge, works in His time to bring perfect justice. [Of course, our part is to not allow the plots of others to change our own heart to be as ugly as those who plot against us or despitefully use us.]
In our opening portion of Psalms today we see that David—in the midst of discussing the evil plans others have made against him—attests to the fact that God has and will use the traps of the wicked against them.
“They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah” Psalms 57:6 NKJV
David’s sentiment about those who planed against him “getting a dose of their own medicine” turned out to be a common theme for him.
Today, no matter what you see people “dosing” out to you, make no mistake, God sees it. Therefore, let’s know and understand what David knew:
God uses the plans of the wicked against themselves.
- araratchurch
- Mar 21, 2022
- 2 min read
“I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.”
Psalms 6:6-9 NKJV
Looking at the images on the news of people suffering is sometimes overwhelming. There seems to be so much pain, so many tears, yet it seems that there is so little we can do about it. Sometimes that person who is suffering and crying is you; and in those times, you may wonder if anyone really sees your tears.
Someone once said, “Smile and the world smiles with you; cry and you cry alone.” Now, you may have at least one friend who does care when you have sorrow; but it is in the midst of sorrow, that we do tend to FEEL more alone, whether that is the case or not. Additionally, it’s easier to convey our happiness about something to someone than it is to share and expose our inner grief.
There was a song we sang when I was growing up: “I Must Tell Jesus.” The bottom line of the message of the song was that I must tell Jesus, because Jesus can help me, Jesus alone. Sometimes we may not only feel this way, but often, it may actually be the truth. There is a level of sorrow, grief, and sadness, that can only be soothed by the Master’s touch.
In our portion of Psalms today we see that David is pouring out raw emotions to the Lord. He is not ashamed to “cry his eyes out” before his Shepherd, knowing that He sees, hears, and will answer.
In another place David expresses that the Lord stores up our tears in His bottle and writes about them in His book!
“You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.”
Psalms 56:8-9 NKJV
Our Lord is intensely personal with His own. He cares when we are hurting. He is ready to comfort the sorrowful soul.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
God sees your tears.
- araratchurch
- Mar 20, 2022
- 2 min read
100 Days with David - Day 6
“But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.” Psalms 5:7, 12 NKJV
For many years of his life my father was a very physically powerful man. He was one who would do questionable things like tying a refrigerator on his back and carrying it up a hill. His large hands had an iron grip; and if he grabbed hold of something, it was not likely to prevail against him. I was in awe of my father and I always felt safe if he was near. On the rare occasion that I needed correction, just one word or look from my father brought me to immediate tears; and I never needed him to lay a hand on me in discipline. On the other hand, I never was afraid that he would hurt me; I knew he would only ever do good things to/for me.
Because of my relationship with my father I am stymied when I hear pastors, teachers, and so on, minimizing the fear of the Lord and sometimes actually presenting it as something we should never have! We do not fear the Lord as someone who is at cross purposes with Him. Rather, we walk in reverential fear and awe of His mighty power, inestimably overwhelmed by His awesome presence.
In our opening passage for today we see a portion of Psalms 5. In this psalm David is contrasting himself with those who do not fear the Lord, those who are living wickedly. He talks about the great mercy of the Lord which allows him to come into His presence. But, when he goes into the presence of the Lord, he does so with great fear. The fear he has for the Lord is reverential awe, knowing the fathomless measure of His power and might. Not just here, but in other psalms, we see the connection made between the fear of the Lord and the favor of the Lord.
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” Psalms 34:7, 9 NKJV
Just like a wonderful father, our Lord protects, keeps, and shows favor to those who walk in fear of Him. I doubt if those who have no fear of the Lord have ever really known Him.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The fear of the Lord and the favor of the Lord are inextricable. #100dayswithdavid