Web Theologian

>111:1 Praise the Lord!I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;he has commanded his covenant forever.Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;all those who practice it have a good understanding.His praise endures forever!

Thankfulness is the mark of a changed life. Sourness and thankfulness cannot exist. Last Friday when my office was serving lunch to the homeless of Seattle and I got stuck doing dishes I needed a thankful hear. Whenever anyone set a plate down for me to wash I thanked them. That kept me from being sour about my position and lead me to truly enjoy the position I was end.

God’s grace and mercy can make you thankful anytime if you understand it. He has given you everything. There are promises that he has made and he is out to fulfill them. If you don’t know them, ask someone, or look for them, either way you can find it.

Don’t treat God like a joke or like an animal in the zoo there for you to observe, rather he is to be feared. That seems very odd to us these days, frankly there is not much that we are afraid of because we have the day in and day out figured out pretty well. Once you start examining the question of God, goodness, and how this world could be created by a good God you enter into some very difficult areas. Taken too lightly don’t be surprised if you get burned, walk in fear with a heart ready to learn then you are on the right road.

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The power of God is unmatched. He rests his feet upon our enemies. Those who cause us trouble day in and day out. Outside of national enemies, and I think I have said this before, it is really hard for me to identify my enemies. I guess that is a good thing.

Melchizedek is this cool guy from the OT who provided Abraham an honor, and Abraham paid an offering to him. He sort of rolls in after Abraham had won a few battles and is never heard of again. In Hebrews Jesus is compared to him. All you can really say is that there is something very special about him.

Things are going to be so good with God in charge, we can stop to smell the flowers, and take a drink in the brook.

>26 Help me, O Lord my God!Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;you, O Lord, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!
30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

I like to see the reasoning even in the poetry of the Psalms. We do not cry out to God on our own righteousness but rather because of His character, his promises, or for his reputation. Let everyone know what kind of God you are. Thehy might not get it, but those who love you do.

Let those who oppose me and therfore God look foolish.

>16 For he did not remember to show kindness,but pursued the poor and needyand the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;may it soak into his body like water,like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,like a belt that he puts on every day!20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,of those who speak evil against my life!
21 But you, O God my Lord,deal on my behalf for your name’s sake;because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;when they see me, they wag their heads.

I don’t care who you are, you had better remember to be kind to the poor or it will come back ot get you. God cares about them, no it is true they are not all saints, there are lots of assholes who are poor, but it doesn’t matter. You need to care or it will be used against you. Also don’t forget to appreciate good things, sometimes it is easy to get into a mood and delight in the suffer and misfortune of others, let it go. Stop watching the news and go find something positive. Truse me you do not want to be in the category of the person in this Psalm

God looks out for his people. It’s amazing to me that David can identify with the poor and needy. He was the king, yet he understood his need, his brokenness. Most leaders appear to have it all together and act like mistakes are the exception. Rather I find mistakes are the norm and often the things that bring us together as people. Sadly it takes hurricanes and earthquakes to bring all people, all faiths, all backgrounds, all economic levels together with a common purpose. Oakland that came with the the territory. It was such a rough city that people who lived there had a bond, almost like you were surviving it together. Seattle doesn’t have that vibe, except maybe after the 90th straight day of rain, then we realize we are all nuts to be here.