Psalm 13

Psalm 13 finds the writer feeling ignored.  He is whining that God is ignoring him.  He has to carry his problems and troubles and has “my arrogant enemies….look down their noses at me”.  Oh how we get caught up in what other people think of us – even if it is our enemies.  Why is it we always seem to be concerned about what other people think?  I was taught as a young boy that it doesn’t pay to worry about what other people think.  First off, they probably aren’t thinking what you think they are anyway.  And even if they are – so what?  What difference does it really make?  We should live for an audience of One.  Now if people think poorly of us because we are doing the wrong things, well then our audience of One likely won’t be happy about it either.  But if our measure is what God thinks of how we live and what we do, then the opinions of others don’t matter at all.  They don’t have any voice in eternity.  They have no say at judgment day.  Only God will make the call.  And that call will be based on how we have lived, or what we have done with Jesus?  Since none of us will make it based on living right, that leaves one entry question.  Is Jesus our Savior and Lord?  Have we put Him in control and accepted His death on the cross as the ticket to receiving God’s grace.  That is the only thing that will get us to heaven.  None of us will make it based on how we live.  Not that life doesn’t matter.  It certainly does.  But our salvation is based on Jesus and our relationship with Him.

 The writer says he “wants to look life in the eye”.  What a great picture.  We should live life like we mean it.  We should pour ourselves into living every day, like it is the last day we have.  The Psalmist says “I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms….celebrating your rescue…..singing at the top of my lungs….full of answered prayers”.  What a picture of a great relationship with the Savior.  When we run to Jesus, He is there with open arms to draw us to Himself.  His arms are able to catch us no matter how messed up life has become.  He will celebrate our rescue with us – after all He is all about setting us free from the chains of sin and despair.  As we come into His presence and are freed from the oppression of sin in our lives, we will be filled with praise and will want to sing out our praise for His saving grace.  And as we begin to walk with Him, our life will begin to show the power of Jesus in us – answered prayer as His power becomes manifest through our life as we learn to walk with and depend on Him.  Are you experiencing that kind of relationship with Him?  If not, there is no better time than today!

Psalm 12

Psalm 12 finds the Psalmist again under attack.  He calls out to God saying “I need your helping hand”.  How long before you call to God for help?  Is it after you have exhausted your own strength and that of those around you?  Or do you run to God as soon as things start going awry?  It is amazing how quickly those around us scatter when the going gets tough.  Our writer finds that and says “all the friends I depended on are gone”.  They scattered in the wind when the going got tough.  People do that.  Every person will at some time come up short on our expectations.  There is only one Rock that never moves and disappoints.  God alone can be depended on 24X7X365.  No person on this planet can meet those requirements.  God alone is the only truly dependable option.  And we need to put Him there. We need to make sure our dependence is on Him. 

 The writer tells us that God has “had enough”.  He is “on my way to heal the ache in the heart”.  God will make things right.  His righteousness will overcome evil.  Every time.  When He comes, He will take evil out.  We can only push God so far before He takes action.  He will “keep us safe from their lies”.  God is pure.  He is the picture of perfection.  We need to hang on tight to Him.  He is our safety and the source of our protection.  So don’t make Him the last resort.  When the enemy comes against you, when evil is in your face, run to God.  Grab His helping hand and let His very nature defeat the enemy.  God is victory just waiting for our call.  It is up to us to do that part though.  He will handle the rest!