Psalm 50:16-23
English
Standard Version (ESV)
16 But
to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 (A)For you hate discipline,
(B)and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, (C)you are pleased with him,
(D)and you keep company with adulterers.
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 (A)For you hate discipline,
(B)and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, (C)you are pleased with him,
(D)and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You
give your mouth free rein for evil,
(E)and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you have done, and I (F)have been silent;
you thought that I[a] was one like yourself.
But now I (G)rebuke you and (H)lay the charge before you.
(E)and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you have done, and I (F)have been silent;
you thought that I[a] was one like yourself.
But now I (G)rebuke you and (H)lay the charge before you.
22 “Mark this, then, you who (I)forget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be (J)none to deliver!
23 The one who (K)offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who (L)orders his way rightly
I will show the (M)salvation of God!”
lest I tear you apart, and there be (J)none to deliver!
23 The one who (K)offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who (L)orders his way rightly
I will show the (M)salvation of God!”
Many years ago I was sitting at a
desk and I heard a man using vulgar language on the other side of the
wall. I could have thought this was just
a moment of weakness for the man, out of frustration he spewed something he
didn’t mean to spew but then I heard him
make a comment about being a deacon of the church, in such a way that he was mocking
it. As to say, “God, I got away with it!”
On Sundays he was one type of person and
on workdays he was totally different. He
would give God the praise on Sunday, not only taking communion but serving it
and then on Monday that same tongue cursed and mocked God. I never trusted that person again. It made me sad, sick to my stomach, and so
very disappointed in the person. I have
often wondered if I should have confronted the person but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure where my place should be but
thought if he was as evil as he sounded, I should just stay clear of him and
not become his friend. God does not
tolerate evil and the Words today tell us that he did not get away with this. Jesus tells us this in Matthew 15:11, 11 (A)it is
not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the
mouth; this defiles a person.”. I don’t know if this man ever repented but I
do know that God will forgive and I hope this man made a change in his life.
Make no mistake,
God is a righteous judge. It is through
Jesus Christ that we are saved not by anything that we do or say. He is the sacrifice that is worthy of praise
and our tongues should be praising Him, not just on Sunday but each and every
moment of the day. God knows our hearts and if any of us are mocking God and
praising Him with the same tongue, there is judgment to come. Yes, God is a God of love. He loves His children and He protects them
from the evil one. However, the evil one
will pay, the evil one will not prevail, because our God is a just God.
As you seek Him,
make sure you seek Him daily and with an attitude of praise. May you realize just how big our God is and
how amazing He is. Fear Him and know
that He is God.
Seeking Him with
all my heart,
Sheila
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