Learning from Psalm 73 – Asaph Envies the Wicked

Psalm 73 - “For I envied the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”  (Psalm 73:3)

“When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”  (vv. 16-17)

“Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”  (Psalm 73:27-28)

In this Psalm, God talks about the “pure in heart,” as well as the “arrogant” and the “wicked.”  To man, the wicked may seem to have no troubles.  Those who are faithful feel that they have many struggles.  Sometimes this seems unfair, even to believers.

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Raising Our Children in the Lord – Learning from Psalm 127

Psalm 127:3- “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…”

Children are a blessing, and most believers know that God provides all blessings. The passage above, however, says more than the mere fact that children are a blessing. It calls them a “heritage” or “inheritance,” depending on the Bible version you use. This gives us some insight into how God wants the parents to act toward their children, from a spiritual standpoint.
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Unless The Lord Builds the House – Learning from Psalm 127

Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.”

The spiritual principle stated in this verse applies to our personal lives, as well as to our fellowship in the Body of Christ. On the individual level, everybody wants a blessing from God, but few people are willing to put God first in every area of their lives, to have their lives be a house built by the Lord. Sometimes people are willing to make small sacrifices to try to persuade God to bless them – religious offerings, attending some services, saying some special prayers – but they still want to go their own way most of the time. Regardless of such wishful thinking, all our efforts are in vain unless the Lord is in control from the beginning. “In vain” means that the thing is empty or fruitless, the result is worthless. Time and effort (labor) are scarce resources in this world – this is how we earn our wages and escape poverty – and no one can afford to waste their time and labor like this. That is why it is so important to have the Lord as the builder, and to have the Lord’s protection as we go along. Read the rest of this entry »

Learning from Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-3 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

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