reading for today

 photo courtesy of thepioneerwoman.com

here is a psalm i have been meditating on lately.  i hope it speaks to you today like it has spoken to me this week.   (bold print added by me)

psalm 50 
a psalm of asaph. 

the Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken, 
and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
out of zion, the perfection of beauty, 
God has shone forth. 
may our God come and not keep silence; 
fire devours before Him, 
and it is very tempestuous around Him.
He summons the heavens above, 
and the earth, to judge His people:  
"gather My godly ones to Me,  
those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."  
and the heavens declare His righteousness, 
for God Himself is judge. 
selah.

"hear, O My people, and I will speak; 
o israel, I will testify against you; 
I am God, your God.
"I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, 
and your burnt offerings are continually before Me.  
"I shall take no young bull out of your house 
nor male goats out of your folds.
"for every beast of the forest is Mine, 
the cattle on a thousand hills.
"I know every bird of the mountains, 
and everything that moves in the field is Mine.
"if I were hungry I would not tell you, 
for the world is Mine, and all it contains.
"shall I eat the flesh of bulls 
or drink the blood of male goats?  
"offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving  
and pay your vows to the Most High;  
call upon Me in the day of trouble;  
I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." 

but to the wicked God says, 
"what right have you to tell of My statutes 
and to take My covenant in your mouth?  
"for you hate discipline, 
and you cast My words behind you.  
"when you see a thief, you are pleased with him, 
and you associate with adulterers.
"you let your mouth loose in evil  
and your tongue frames deceit. 
"you sit and speak against your brother;  
you slander your own mother's son. 
"these things you have done and I kept silence;  
you thought that I was just like you; 
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
"now consider this, you who forget God, 
or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.








"he who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;  
and to him who orders his way aright 
I shall show the salvation of God."

wow.

 

i hope to be counted as one of the first group, not as one of the second.  cultivate a heart of humility and thankfulness within me, o God.  teach me to love Your discipline and control what comes out of my mouth.  You alone are judge.  i desire to value Your judgments.  may you find me faithful in the end.  i desire Your salvation.  i desire to honor You.

charis