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More Psalms - 25, 29, 33, 36, 39
More Psalms
Our reading today covers Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, and 39. I would suggest reading them in a different order: 33 - creator, 29 - ruler over nature, 36 - wickedness of man and the lovingkindness of God, 25 - prayer for protection, guidance, and pardon, and finally, 39 - Prayer over the vanity of life.
This sets the foundation of all thought and perspective: God is the creator of all things. As Creator, He KNOWS the very composition and needs of each of His creatures including me. He not only knows about His creation, He rules within it. As needed, He has brought judgments upon it: He ruled in the flood (29:10). This is not a deistic view of a god who never interacts with his creation but shows a God who interacts to bring about His plans and purposes. Yet, He allows men to be men, to rebel against him, to do good and to do evil (36:3-4). This does not come without responsibility as God WILL bring each into judgment for their deeds, but there is a promise of God's kindness, mercy, and love to those who seek after Him. Thus, the Psalmist, living in a world that has such rebellion and evil, prays that God would protect, guide, and pardon him. The last psalm recognizes one of the great dangers facing mankind: we forget we are temporary. We thus forget about the judgment to come. We focus on the temporary instead of the eternal. Thus, the Psalmist prays: "Lord, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am" (Ps. 39:4).
You do remember that you are going to die, don't you? Then what? Hugh DeLong
