Into the Boardroom
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to recognize You calling me into Your presence, that I am truly responding to Your call.
Read Psalm 50
[1]A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. [2] From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. [3] Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. [4] He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: [5] “Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” [6] And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. [7] “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. [8] I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. [9] I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, [10] for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. [11] I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. [12] If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. [13] Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? [14] “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, [15] and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” [16] But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? [17] You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. [18] When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. [19] You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. [20] You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. [21] When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. [22] “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: [23] Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the psalm view God?God is the righteous judge. He will call all into account. The Lord summons not only his people to be judged but also the earth and heavens as witnesses (4). The Judge addresses two groups of people. Firstly, his faithful people are summoned (7–15). They are dutiful in their religious observances, though the Lord makes it clear that he could do without them (11–13). What he really values is their faithfulness in daily living (14) and his involvement in their everyday struggles (v). The second group is “the wicked” (16–21) who can recite the laws of God but whose behavior contradicts them. This psalm conveys the intensity of God’s nature, the intensity of his love and of his justice. When we encounter him we run into his love or his wrath depending on what is inside us. (See Psalm 18:25–27). The one thing we never encounter is indifference – but he may expose indifference in us.
Apply
Pursue the Lord with greater intensity than anything else in your life and begin now.
Closing prayer
Passionate Lord, awaken my spirit to run with you. You call me, and I will call on you. May you find in me a reflection of your heart.
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