Psalm 37, Proverbs 20, Matthew 12

Psalm 37 begins with an admonition: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers.... Trust in the lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

It struck me when I first became a Christian that "He will give you the desires of your heart" could be interpreted two ways:

1. He will give you what you desire in your heart.
2. He will fill your heart with new desires -- righteous and Godly desires.

 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...."

In all matters -- my work, the state, the country.

"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil!."

This is what leads to the riots. Wallowing in anger and wrath, and fretting -- taking internal and personal responsibility for changing things that are outside of our control.

"The meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace."

Let this peace come to everybody -- related to both the violence and the COVID.

"The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright."

They trash the neighborhoods of the poor and shoot them up, killing their innocent, even the children. They want to kill all of the brave police who are only protecting them, sometimes from themselves.

"Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken."

I want to see the bows broken, but in spite of my cold rage I really don't want to see them hurt. I want to see them change their hearts and pursue peace. But that's not my call, I guess.

"The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."

Psalm 38 is a lamentation.

Proverbs 20: "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strive, but every fool will be quarreling."

I need to know when to speak and when to say silent. Don't quarrel.

"Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war."

It's not that we're not to fight the Marxists. It's that we're to counsel with the wise and fight wisely.

"A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them."

I have to be thankful for Trump, who is seeking to do this. Who woulda thunk it? Not I. I saw him as a blustering fool.

Matthew 12: "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house dividing against itself will stand." How can we heal this terrible division?

"How can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?" This is how they bound us with Wokeness.

"On the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak."

Shut up unless you have something righteous or helpful to say.

Psalm 36, Proverbs 19, Matthew 11

The first four verses of Psalm 36 describe what we're seeing in the world right now -- rejection of God, embrace of doing wrong day after day. But the next verses immediately praise the vastness of God's love, righteousness, and justice, then describe how the righteous immerse themselves in the love, righteousness, and justice.

Proverbs 19 draws some unusual pairs of contrasts: poor and blameless vs. "a fool whose lips are perverse." "Desire without knowledge is not good -- how much more will hasty feet miss the way!" Evidently haste shows a lack of knowledge. "A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord." -- Blaming God for the misfortune they brought on themselves?

Matthew 11 is the bewildering chapter in which John the Baptist years about Jesus's deeds and sends a messenger to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" But we've seen that John knew who Jesus was since they were both still in the womb, and John had just baptized Jesus recently.

Psalm 35, Proverbs 17, Matthew 10

Psalm 35: 

1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 

2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 

Is this also applicable to those who contend against us collectively? And I need to recognize that I can not distinguish among them. Which of them are fighting against us -- seeking to destroy the country? Which of them are just misguided kids who are convinced that they're Making the World a Better Place? It's not my problem to sort that out but to just pray for them.

3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” 

Remember that God, not the Constitution, is my refuge. 

4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 

5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; 

6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. 

7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 

I have no idea what this would look like, but I need to trust that God will take care of it.

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. 

10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

Lord help those whose lives are being torched, literally and figuratively: those whose businesses have been burned or looted or shut down; those whose cars they've trashed; those whose neighborhoods are unsafe; those who are being Cancelled. Surprise me with a delight in how it all plays out and how justice comes for those whose lives they seek to destroy.

Thank you that for a moment I forgot that I am one of those whose jobs they've destroyed. Be with my students, all the students across the world who are being taught poisonous philosophy, taught that their refuge is in the government, that they are to view their fellow human beings with such a jaded eye.

11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. 

12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. 

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, 

14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. 

I have fallen very short there. I've not been praying for those who are muddled, befuddled, and led astray.

15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. 

16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. 

Cancel culture. It's frightening how much like 1930s Germany this is, except that it's not the government stopping people from working. It's the Woke mob.

17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. 

Move the Church to prayer. Those that have fallen prey to any false doctrines, open their eyes. 

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. 

19 Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. 

20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 

"Against those who live quietly in the land." 

21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.” 

22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. 

23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. 

24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. 

25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.” 

26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. 

Amen.

27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” 

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

Proverbs 17:

1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. 

2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. 

3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. 

Help me to remember that this is nothing new.

4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. 

Give me words of wisdom, both for my own soul and to lift up those who are also frightened and seeking peace.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. 

Do they realize that this is what they're doing? That's not for me to determine. I can stick with judging that the lockdowns are draconian and unjust. I can stick with judging that allowing rioters to go unpunished while prosecuting those who just wanted to protect themselves.

6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.  

7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. 

8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 

9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. 

10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. 

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 

13 To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. 

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? 

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. 

Let those who are seeking shelter and comfort during this time find their refuse in You, Lord!

16 A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. 

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. 

18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. 

19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; 

Help us to make right those wrongs we have done.

disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. 

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. 

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. 

23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. 

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Matthew 10:

1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 

4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 

6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 

The first commission of the disciples was to the lost sheep of Israel. We should probably be more concerned with the church before we worry about the unbelievers.

7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 

10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 

11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 

12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 

13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 

14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 

Let me not be among those who refuse to hear!

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 

17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 

18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 

20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 

22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

The damage to souls is far more profound than the damage to property. Let me not lose sight of that.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 

33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 

35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 

36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 

39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. 

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 

41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 

42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”