Psalm 14:1-7, ESV
To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Psalm 14:1-7, JN paraphrase
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” How long ago was this precious Psalm written? 2500 +/- years ago? And it nails our society and moral condition precisely? Read carefully and meditatively. Do you hear the national news sources? It does not matter, they are all reporting, “ They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”

But the LORD, God, the Almighty is our refuge. Our prayer is “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” And He is! Soon! For His people!

Recommended Reading

Time for another one from T. M. Moore: Restore Us! A Call to Serious Prayer for Revival. BTW: All of his books at the Fellowship of Ailbe Bookstore are FREE with a $5 S&H fee.

Psalm 13:1-6, ESV
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:1-6, JN paraphrase
Haven’t we all be through this? When our self-pity exceeds our good sense; when Satan sticks a knife in our ego and twists?

But the lesson David shares with us is to steadfastly dwell on the power of His word and trust in the permanence of His word.

And He does enjoy the prayers and songs of His saints.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 119:17-24, ESV
Gimel Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:17-24, JN paraphrase
What does it mean to deal bountifully with me so I can keep the Word of the LORD, God, the Almighty?

1. He must open my eyes to the beauty of the Word.
2. He must remove the curse of a sojourner
3. He must not hide His commandments from me
4. He must ignite the longing for His rules
5. He must rebuke the insolent, the accursed ones, the wanders from His commandments.
6. He must take away scorn and contempt from me.
7. He must protect me from authorities who plot my ruin
8. And the result will be that I meditate on your statutes, they are my delight and counselors.
9. Who does the necessary steps? He does, the LORD, God, the Almighty does. Not Johnny.

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD, GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 12:1-8, ESV
To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Psalm 12:1-8, JN paraphrase
It is mid-October, 2022, in the rundown to the election of 2022. Speaking kindly—what a mess! This is a prime example of why we must be searching the Scriptures for guidance in living out the last days. Each of us, in our daily readings, searching for those pure Words of the LORD. Guard Your people, O LORD, from the vileness that is exalted among the children of man.

We need to be fervent in our prayers, recognizing that our prayers are always answered—Always means always—in the LORD, God, the Almighty’s time. It does not mean that our requests are always answered as we have proposed—but always answered as the LORD, God, the Almighty has selected as the very best possible answer. Our prayers must be prayers of Thanksgiving knowing that His answer, both in timing and execution, is Perfect. (And so much better than my feeble bletherings).

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 11:4-7, ESV
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Psalm 11:4-7, JN paraphrase
A right down the middle of the LORD, GOD, the Almighty's loves and hates

The Righteous vs the Wicked

Righteous deeds vs Wicked deeds

The results

Behold His Face vs a rain of burning coals and sulfur, a scorching wind.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.