Psalm 10

Why do good things happen to bad people?

Why do liars get away with it? Why do the bullies never get punished, the greedy never have a bad day with their money?

It's frustrating. And it is very much the way of the world today. People are growing angry about it- just look at the state of politics or the Occupy (insert location) movement. People are tired of the people they perceive as wicked getting away with it. But they feel helpless.

And perhaps the most maddening thing of all is when it seems that these people don't care if they get caught by God- or don't think they will.

It's maddening because, at least to us, it seems they are right. For every Bernie Madoff that gets caught- how many more guys like that get away with it? Sure, we don't see what happens when they come face to face with God, but for us- here and now- we want to see justice.

So did the psalmist. He starts by asking why God seems distant when times are tough. Why does it seem God is far from us when we face trials or we are the victim? Why does God 'delay' His justice?

The psalmist reminds us that God DOES see our afflictions, He does notice our pain. And, He acts. It may not be on our timetable, but He does act. I find myself asking these questions lately- God, why can't we seem to get a leg up on our finances? God, why do we keep having bad things happen? God, why can't I get relief?

God does hear this, and He does act. But He also allows us to learn in the painful times. Sometimes it just depends on how long it takes us to learn.

Psalm 9

Vindicated.

That's the word I'd use to describe what the psalmist wants God to be. I agree with him. It really does seem like more and more, bad people are getting away with stuff. It seems injustice in all corners of the world is on the rise. We believers in Christ keep saying that "God is good." "God is just." "God will take care of us."

But the world doesn't see it.

David has, and that's why he recognizes and praises God for His justice and mercy- on the righteous. And that's why I listen to David, but get super irritated with the 'sunshine and rainbows God' of a lot of Christians. They say those things above, but it comes across as more of a "Well, this is what I think He is, though I've never been tested and tried enough to see it for real." I listen to David because he balances his unbounded optimism with realism. He recognizes there are going to be bad times, he's been in them. And because he has seen God's rescue, God's justice on his enemies first hand, David can offer a hope founded in personal experience.

David shares his failures as openly as his victories, it's why his "God is good" doesn't ring hollow. There is something for us all there to learn.

Psalm 8

I can't help but here the old hymn when I read these verses.

The funny thing about the majesty of God- at least in this psalm- is that none of the things that make God majestic are things we call majestic. Beautiful, inspiring, and joyous- yes. But majestic? Maybe the moon and stars thing.

What I notice is that the first thing we really get to see that makes God majestic is that He has built a stronghold against His enemies. It's made not of God's might, power, or strength. It's made of the praise of children and infants. If you're not a parent, you don't understand that, not completely. A few weeks ago, at church, Kristin (my wife) nudged me and nodded at Leslie and Kenna, our kids. They were both singing along with the song. This was new- and it WAS majestic. A few days ago, Leslie, our oldest who is turning into an avid reader, asked for a Bible. (The one she has is one of those Gideon's type new babies get, and the writing is tiny.) I understand much better as a parent why Jesus would later say that unless you believe like a little child, you'll never enter heaven.

A child's faith is majestic.

And hard to tear down if you're the enemy.

Psalm 7

I like hearing about God as a warrior- an avenger.

Truthfully, I feel like life in general can be a bully from time to time. Actually, a gang of bullies called Finances, Stress, Temptation, Satan, Jerks, Oppressors, and the IRS. It'd be nice to know that someone has your back, someone steps in and rescues you by laying waste to the bullies.

David believes God is that rescuer. God is armed and dangerous and after the bad guys.

But, as we get a description of God prepping for battle, David reminds us of something about evil and wicked people: They do more damage to themselves than God will.

"Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads."

What an image! When we are wicked (and yes, you and I are often the people referred to here) we are pregnant with evil (vile desires), conceive trouble (sin) and give birth to disillusionment (we stop walking with God...and sometimes take others with us). Not only that- we fall into our traps- traps we lay for others that get us. Lies we tell to hurt others but get found out. Enticing others to sin- yet we ourselves get caught in it.

We would do well to remember this. Not only when evil comes after us (evil will get it's justice, either by its own hand or God's), but also when we are caught up in our own wickedness. We also would do well to remember that God is righteous, and all that goes along with that.

Psalm 6

I remember once, when I was in elementary school, a game of tackle football. I was tiny, by any standards, and somehow ended up on the bottom of a pile of a half dozen kids- which included a nine year old pushing 175. I still remember the feeling of being trapped. You wanna talk about crying out?

As an adult, and especially this last week, I've felt that crushing weight of being trapped in a pile. Only this time, the weight comes from the burdens of adulthood and assaults of a spiritual nature.

I've felt just as trapped as when I was 9.

There have been nights with little sleep, there has been brokenheartedness. Some of it brought on by outward assaults, some brought on by the sin I've engaged in. I wonder- "How long, LORD, how long?"

I love that David suddenly changes his tune in verse 8. He goes from a total lack of hope, to the surety that God has heard his cries. He is confident, he is bold.

Because he believes God has heard him- and trusts God will act.

When people finally got off me in that pileup, and I could breathe freely again, I too was encouraged. I knew I was free, and I knew I'd live. For David, it's as if God waded in and started pulling the pileup off of him- not one burden at a time, but all at once. From crushing weight to breathing free all at once.

It offers you and I hope, for sure.

Psalm 5

It really makes for great theater, this image of a person screaming out to God.

Lt. Dan on the mast of the Jenny in Forrest Gump is a great example. But it's just one of many. There is something about seeing a person broken and needing God that makes good drama.

Until that person is you.

Then, it hurts.

This psalm is about a man who sees and is pursued by wicked people. He calls to God to be God- in other words, punish the wicked and reward the righteous. He asks God to be just. He wants the wicked to be "destroyed" and "banished." We don't see a lot of mercy in David's initial requests from God about his enemies.

Then, in verse 11, there is grace.

"...let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy."

There is hope. I take this to mean that those who David have just prayed to be crushed, even they, if they choose to turn to God, can find refuge. David would know. He has been arrogant and wicked and lied, he has engaged in intrigue. Bloodthirsty and deceitful? Let's just ask Bathsheba's husband. Oh, that's right, David had him killed to hide his infidelity with the man's wife.

Yet, David says he can enter God's presence. Why would a man as vile and as wicked as a murderous adulterer be allowed in God's presence?

Because God is as merciful as He is just. David got that.

We need to get it as well.

Psalm 4

I've been doing a lot of verse 1 lately:

Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

I know God is aware of me, and I know He is constantly so. Yet, even David felt the need to give a kind of "Hey God, over here- I need you to pay attention to me!" It's not wrong to ask- even demand- God's attention. But I think maybe it's more for us to feel better than it is to actually change the attention God is giving us. He's pretty invested and interested already.

I also share David's frustration with people turning to anything and anyone else for security. I'm kind of a political watcher, and I've been noticing a trend that people think a politician can make things better. In fact, there is a very loud cry in America right now like in verse 6, "Who will bring us prosperity?"

David's answer is not a president, or business man, or an economic plan. Really, his answer has nothing to do with prosperity as we'd like it, but rather seeing and knowing God. There we find a different kind of prosperity. And peace.

David concludes again that he will sleep well. You've heard 'sleep of the just' and 'sleep like a baby.' David sleeps like the safe. Rescued by God, and guarded.

Better than Ambien.