reflections
A lot happened over this last weekend. Unfortunately for you, you shall have to wait just a little longer to hear about it...In the meantime, I'd like to leave you with some reflections I have had regarding God's just judgment of late.
Yesterday I read through Psalm 94 and was reminded that while we look to God for refuge and know that through any anxiety, suffering or trials He holds onto us, bringing us joy in a way only knowing Him can, we far too often go straight to this beautiful truth and skip over the scary and ugly truth of sin and judgment.
We discussed this same fact at Bible study last night, after spending the last two weeks looking at what Paul has to say about sin and judgment in the book of Romans. Now that is a scary picture!
Of course, there is also a danger the other way, a danger of dwelling on your own sinfulness so much so that you are not freed as you should in the gift of salvation offered in Jesus, who lifts that burden from you.
Perhaps, like so many other things, there is a need for balance here.
But what I was really thinking of and reminded of was that sometimes it is good to spend that extra time taking in the reality of God's wrath.
Afterall, God's beautiful grace cannot be fully understood without first grasping the reality of the judgment we deserve!
Anyway, here is Psalm 94 for you to reflect on for yourselves in the quietness of your own heart....
Psalm 94
1 O LORD, the God who avenges,
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long will the wicked, O LORD,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, O LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the alien;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, "The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed."
8 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
he knows that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
the man you teach from your law;
13 you grant him relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.
20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--
one that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 They band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will destroy them.
In other news, I finished my PTC (Intro the the Bible) course last week, doing my exam last thursday! Yes, my first PTC course complete!! whooohooo!!
Who does an exam by choice?! Ohwell, it has been soo good! Praise God for such an opportunity to learn more about Him!
