There Will Be Pruning

Psalm 37:22 (KJV) For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I am in constant dialogue with a friend who is big on eschatology and has charts and graphs to prove his position.  All I have to respond with is the consistent word of scripture.  This is one example that you find saturating this chapter and sprinkled through the rest of the Bible.

There are two groups mentioned here.  In reality they are one group with two destinies.  Both the “blessed” and the “cut off” are part of genetic Israel.  Both groups are descendants of Abraham and Jacob.  Even here in the days of David the point is being made that the people of God are not a DNA module but a spiritual body.

So?  It does not matter if you were born a Jew.  It does not matter if you were born with a Christian silver spoon in your mouth.  What matters is whether you respond in faith and obedience to the one who is writing in the book of life.  

EZ Credit

Psalms 37:21 (KJV) The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

A recurring theme in scripture is the danger of being a borrower, and even in the danger of being a lender.  In the Old Testament law, I believe Jews were forbidden from lending at interest to their fellow Jews.  They were allowed to charge interest to foreigners, strangers, sojourners, and such, but not the Jews.  Jews were their family and you don’t take advantage of family

I don’t know if I’m on solid ground, but I think this would refer to loaning money to people who are going through hard times and can’t buy food for the children.  I don’t know that it refers to business deals.  Loaning money to someone going into business in order to make a profit, seems legitimate, but I’m not sure the Bible makes that exception.

So?  As believers we are to give, not loan.  Generally when people have asked me to borrow money because they’re in need I will take this approach.  If I have it, I will tell them it is a gift.  If they want to someday give me a gift back that’s fine, but they are under no burden.  If I can’t afford it, I say so.  I think that’s the way the Bible wants us to do it.

Fret Not

(Psa 37:1 KJV)  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(Psalm 14 also read)

I was sitting and thinking about my blessings, and how quickly and easily they could evaporate.  What keeps me from stressing out about that possibility?  Providence.  Faith.  And the points made by this verse.  I am working on not fretting.

I once had a pastor who preached an annual sermon on this Psalm.  He called it the “Cycle of Victorious Living”.  It was very inspirational, and it was something that stuck with you.  As I have been looking at the issues going on in our political system, and all of the things we are worried about with elections and the economy and such, I have every reason to worry, in a secular sense.  The world is coming apart.  We are in that time, where there are wars and rumors of wars, disease, hunger, and whatever else you want to add to the list.  In spite of that I am not overly worried.

I don’t find myself worrying a lot.  Am I aware?  Yes.  Am I concerned?  Yes.  Am I preparing for possibilities?  Yes.  Do I worry?  I sometimes find myself falling into that trap, but then I remind myself that God is in charge, and that Providence will be able to take care of anything that comes up.  In a word, I have learned not to fret.

So?  I might be concerned.  I may fall into the trap of worrying.  I may allow the tension to get in me and have a hard time sleeping for a short period.  But overall, I am learning to fret not.  A good question to ask is, “What is the worst thing that can happen?”  Only God knows, and He is not telling.  He’s just saying, “Trust Me”. 

I Heard that Somewhere

Psalms 37:11 (KJV) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Does this verse sound familiar?  It should.  Jesus was a plagiarist.  He quotes this in the Sermon on the Mount.  The “meek” (humble NASB) (6035) here must be the meek of the KJV Matthew 5:5.  It is amazing how often things that we associate with the New Testament are found in the Old.  There is a reason for that.  They are a continuum.  The basic truth are the same.  God is the same.  One promises and the other fulfills.  

So?  Read the whole thing with a memory for what you have already seen.