Psalm 11

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining me today in this brand new week as we spend time with God and hearing from Him.

So, the readings for today:

POWERPOINT

Today's Readings: Psalm 10-11

Tomorrow’s Readings: Psalms 12-13

Today I am starting with:

a prayer of Anselm (p71)

O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake.

Psalm 11 Do not flee

As we meditate upon the Psalms we start to get a depth to our understandings and put God in His central place and this is how it is in this Psalm. We can see injustice being done, those who are in the right being undermined by people deliberately misconstruing their motives and it is easy, in the face of such opposition, to flee like a bird for protection, to find some sort of cover from the onslaught, to hide away. And there are times when we should which is what is meant by being as wise as serpents. But the Psalmist here says, no, it is in God we have refuge, He is bigger than all being in His temple upon His throne in Heaven, in total control and nothing escapes His notice as we are told in the previous Psalm. All that is being done will be brought into judgement by Him and it is is He who fights against such oppressors and deceivers.

But isn’t the verse that strikes you like a slap across the face verse 3? If the foundations are destroyed then what can the righteous do? Today the foundations of society are being shaken, foundations that are based upon the bible and what can we do? If the foundation laid is not Jesus Christ and upon His Words then it will not be long before the whole edifice comes tumbling down as someone who builds upon the sand. Judgement is surely coming even if there is a delay.

There are no easy answers to what should we do. Even this Psalm seems forlorn in its answer but we must not give up. There is not much that can be done other than continue being righteous, continue being merciful, continue being just. Be glad that we belong to the Eternal City where righteousness, mercy and justice reign supreme in Jesus and our God where no unrighteousness can enter. The foundation of God’s temple, a word that can be translated as ‘palace’; His Palace will not falter. He is in control. What we must not do is flee. We cling to God. We must take a stand for righteousness. God will reward in the end and we shall see His face.

(LET ME CLOSE THIS DEVOTION WITH)

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, oh, leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all in Thee I find; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; Vile and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity.

prayer; confession..martyrs, thanksgiving, supplicaiton…beryl J, Jan, Gwyeth, Kath

Daily Weekday Devotional With Ian

YouTube Notes

Today's Readings: Psalm 10-11

Tomorrow’s Readings: Psalms 12-13

https://MountCalvarySwansea.uk

https://IanMThomas.com

https://twitter.com/revianmthomas

Bibliography

Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.