2018 Dec 26 Psalm 26, 2Peter 1
2018 Dec 26 Psalm 26, 2Peter 1
Hello to everyone, and best wishes for a good day! Let's examine some of Psalm 26, a stirring and instructive psalm of David, this time verses 1-4:
"1 Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in my integrity; In Jehovah I have trusted without wavering. 2 Examine me, O Jehovah, and put me to the test; Refine my innermost thoughts and my heart. 3 For your loyal love is always in front of me, And I walk in your truth. 4 I do not associate with deceitful men, And I avoid those who hide what they are."
Psalm 26:1 David underscores the importance of walking in integrity. Integrity means "wholeness or completeness without corruption." Are we aiming to be complete spiritually, free of any moral corruption? How fine to be sensitive to our conscience, letting it steer us clear of any wrong inclination or decision. It needs to be trained, however, by our love of God, the truth, and His word, our touchstone on moral issues and spirituality. God, in His great wisdom, has provided laws and principles in His word that at least touch on the truly important matters of life, that we might know how to walk and live in a way that truly pleases Him, that helps us maintain happiness ourselves and work what is good toward others.
Psalm 26:2,3 May we remain willing to let God guide us, rather than stubbornly hold to the ideas or philosophies of men. Proverbs 3:5-8 says "5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad. 8 It will be a healing to your body And refreshment for your bones." May we let Jehovah refine our "innermost thoughts" and heart, as He helps us, in His loyal love, to find true satisfaction and contentment in life.
Psalm 26:4 May we be cautious about our close associations, realizing the effect that tricky, dishonest, deceitful ones may have on our own spirit. You may recall 1Corinthians 15:33, or even Proverbs 13:20, which reads: "The one walking with the wise will become wise, But the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly." The "stupid" one is one knowing the honest, right thing to do, but often will go astray, caving to selfishness or greed. He may seem intelligent, but has a warped sense of priorities, often exalting foolishness above God's standards. Having dealings with such ones can have devastating effects on our own spirituality. May we keep our distance, perhaps, if so inclined, encouraging such ones to look to God's word for true happiness, helping them receive needed discipline or correction where possible. May we treasure and desire an honest heart before God and others, having sincerity, with no need to "hide what we are" or cover up closely-held lies deep within us.
2Peter 1:2-4 highlights "accurate knowledge," reminding us of the true unity that is possible if we humbly accept God's instruction and apply it in our personal lives. Peter is primarily writing to those with heavenly hopes, to share in "divine nature," but these words can encourage all to treasure devotion to God in a close, personal relationship with Him, as we grow in the accurate knowledge of God and His purpose involving Christ, to find peace in our lives by God's undeserved kindness, with precious promises of eternal life. These verses read: "2 May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to you by an accurate knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for his divine power has granted us all the things that contribute to life and godly devotion through the accurate knowledge of the One who called us by his own glory and virtue. 4 Through these things he has granted us the precious and very grand promises, so that through these you may become sharers in divine nature, having escaped from the world’s corruption produced by wrong desire." God's word instructs, at Galatians 5:16: "Keep walking by spirit and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all." May we turn away wrong desires, satisfying our right desires in harmony with God's love and reasonableness, as He can help us find all we need in life to be truly content and happy, including true friends and for most, eventually perhaps all, a loyal marriage partner, with an understanding of right standards to live by, peaceably with others. May we always treasure God's loyal love toward us by seeking to ever please Him, walking with Him toward eternal life, alongside as many as possible, as God "does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2Pete 3:9).
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Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
