Psalm 52 was written by David at the time that Doeg the Edomite reported to Saul that David had gone to see Ahimelech the priest. This one deceitful and cowardly act resulted in the slaughter of 85 priests. Verses 1-4 speak about the sin:
1WHY BOAST you of mischief done against the loving-kindness of God [and the godly], O mighty [sinful] man, day after day? 2Your tongue devises wickedness; it is like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3You love evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness, justice, and right. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 4You love all destroying and devouring words, O deceitful tongue.
Then verse 5 tells of the sure reward for what was done:
5God will likewise break you down and destroy you forever; He will lay hold of you and pluck you out of your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
The righteous will one day look on the wicked and their end and be very glad that THEY did it God's Way! Verse 9 is what WE do!
9I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).
Mark 2:1:
1AND JESUS having returned to Capernaum, after some days it was rumored about that He was in the house [probably Peter's].
When we were in Israel, we saw what many are very confident are the ruins of Peter's house! It was a very short and straight walk from the front of where the synagogue was in those days. It was fascinating to see that these are very real places and not just made up stories! Can you imagine the desperate faith of the friends of the paralytic? They took to making a hole in the roof of someone else's house so that their friend could be healed by Jesus! It is frustratingly sad to see and hear of so many people who need healing and deliverance, yet they will not even walk through the front door of a church that teaches the Word of God concerning healing and deliverance, let alone break down the roof! Oh for such faith as theirs that will NOT be denied! The Holy Spirit is very active in our world today among people who are hungry and thirsty for the things of God and will go after him with their whole heart! Are YOU such a person? I hope so!
When speaking of Bible prophecy, very many prophecies that we see in the Old Testament have already come to pass. That builds great confidence that all of the rest will, too! Isaiah 17:1 is one such prophecy:
1THE MOURNFUL, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Damascus [capital of Syria, and Israel's bulwark against Assyria]. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.
Damascus, Syria has never been destroyed to this point in time! But the Bible says it WILL BE! The Word of God has many things to say about the rewards for honouring God and doing things His way. It also addresses the results for NOT honouring God and His Word! I KNOW which group I want to be involved with! How about you?
Shalom in Him!
