Your Faithful People
Opening Prayer
Lord, You are the source of my life and there is no one like You. You are my safe resting place. Thank You.
Read Psalm 52
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1] For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.” Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? [2] You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. [3] You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. [4] You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! [5] Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. [6] The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, [7] “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” [8] But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. [9] For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. 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 are we encouraged in the Psalm?When we are angry, frustrated, confused or disappointed with life and God, it is easy to wander away from the community of faith and seek solace on our own terms. And yet continuing to meet for worship with the people of God can actually nourish us and grow us through these times.The message of Psalm 52 ties together many of our themes this week. The psalmist regards the evil of those around him, and longs for their destruction (5). He is confident that they will be brought to account, because of God’s justice. But his own heart is pure because of his trust in God’s unfailing love (8). He is not responsible for the judgement of his enemies. He is responsible for his own life before God, and he chooses to be rooted in the house of God, in the presence of God’s people (9).When we meet with God’s people for worship we are saying with the psalmist, “I trust you, Lord. I trust my enemies to you. I trust my own life to you. Together with your people I will worship you because you are good.” To continue in corporate worship, even when we don’t understand all that God is up to, is to surrender to his call.
Apply
Pray for your own church community. How can you help it become a more supportive and nurturing resource for others?
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