Read
(For the music leader by David, the Lord's servant.)
Human Sin
1 Sinners don't respect God;
sin is all they think about.
2They like themselves too much
to hate their own sins
or even to see them.
3They tell deceitful lies,
and they don't have the sense
to live right.
4Those people stay awake,
thinking up mischief,
and they follow the wrong road,
refusing to turn from sin.
5Your love is faithful, Lord,
and even the clouds in the sky
can depend on you.
6Your decisions are always fair.
They are firm like mountains,
deep like the sea,
and all people and animals
are under your care.
7Your love is a treasure,
and everyone finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8You give your guests a feast
in your house,
and you serve a tasty drink
that flows like a river.
9The life-giving fountain
belongs to you,
and your light gives light
to each of us.
10Our Lord, keep showing love
to everyone who knows you,
and use your power to save all
whose thoughts please you.
11Don't let those proud
and merciless people
kick me around
or chase me away.
12Look at those wicked people!
They are knocked down,
never to get up again.
Reflect
The world can seem like an ugly place. Evil at times appears overwhelming, even unstoppable: it is easy to slip into the mindset that there is little hope. We look at the big picture and see random acts of terror destroying lives and societal trust. We look around us and find small acts of offense at almost every turn. Who is perpetrating all this discord? In this psalm David identifies sinners who “don’t respect God.”
I don’t usually think of people as “sinners”. I prefer to think of sin as an impersonal concept that people sometimes engage in but not something anyone would intentionally choose. But here David says that sinners are people, so wrapped up in themselves they don’t see their own sin, they choose wrong and even lie awake at night thinking up mischief. In Psalm 51:5 David says he was sinful from birth and in Psalm 58:3 that from birth the wicked go astray, are wayward and speak lies. Sin does seem inherently personal.
But the second section of this three part psalm gives us another perspective. One of a God whose love is faithful, upon whom all creation depends and which is under His care; a God whose sheltering wings provide for our protection. He is the one who gives light and life to each of us. It reminds me of Paul’s exhortation in Romans 1:18-20 that despite those who would suppress the truth of God by their wickedness, the invisible qualities of God are seen in the visible creation and that we are therefore without excuse.
The concluding section is a tender prayer affirming a God who is there for those who know Him and who will save those who turn to Him. Use this prayer when you are afraid.
Respond
Father God, you made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for you. Thank you for your promise that you will be found by those who seek you and you will protect me today against any evil that would come against me, to the glory of your name.
James Paterson
James works as a visual artist. His current body of work is a series of metal wire sculptures called Prayer Machines which are whimsically ambiguous machine-like objects that give expression to mystery. “I love to share the gospel message, using art as a bridge, to encourage people in their relationship with Jesus.” He and Lynn have four young adult children. Publications Jim’s Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book (Bastian Books ,2007)