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#Post#: 4239--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: March 20, 2013, 3:26 pm
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[quote author=Leaf link=topic=201.msg4235#msg4235
date=1363809898]
Thank you. :)
[/quote]I'm relieved it made sense to someone. Thank you.
There are times when I ask myself if I'm mad and the world is
sane. ;)
#Post#: 4243--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Leaf Date: March 20, 2013, 3:48 pm
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You are welcome. :)
[quote]... I ask myself if I'm mad and the world is sane.
;)[/quote]
It is not so.
#Post#: 4290--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Amadeus Date: March 22, 2013, 9:46 am
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[quote]There are times when I ask myself if I'm mad and the
world is sane[/quote]
[font=courier]Probably you are at times mad and the world is
insane. That goes for me as well, so please don't feel like I am
picking on you.[/font]
#Post#: 4343--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Leaf Date: March 25, 2013, 2:35 pm
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^ Who's quote is it? I don't know, but I remember reading once:
"Only in an insane world are the sane considered insane".
At times there's a lot of truth in that.
#Post#: 5008--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 2, 2013, 4:36 pm
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Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou
thyself in times of trouble?
Someone said once that we can know our character by what we do
when we think no one is looking. This Psalm reminds me of
that. It seems to me sometimes that God hides from us to see
what we will do if we aren't sure He's watching. Life with God
hiding at times seems like a test of our character. If we knew
for sure all the time that God was watching, perhaps we humans
would be tempted to act more hypocritically than we already do.
Voltaire, an atheist, said, "The safest course is to do nothing
against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life
and have no fear from death." It seems to me that Voltaire was
probably happy in his lifetime and truly had nothing to fear
from death. If we can believe what William Blake said, Voltaire
was in Heaven!
2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be
taken in the devices that they have imagined.
"Persecute" is like "pursue"in Hebrew -- like a predator
chasing prey. It first occurs in Genesis:
Genesis 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and
Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is
my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
"Hotly pursued" is good there. In Proverbs, it's translated as
"burning."
Proverbs 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a
potsherd covered with silver dross.
"Let them be taken" in verse 2 of the Psalm is doubtful. It
probably should read, "they are caught," meaning the poor are
caught in the snares of the wicked. Not much has changed in the
world, has it?
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth
the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
It seems to the wicked that he can obtain whatever he wants; and
if there is a God, He must be afar.
"Whom the LORD abhorreth" could read "having blasphemed the
LORD." The person who congratulates himself on his own evil is
underrating God.
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not
seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Another complaint about the translation -- the last part may
read, "There is no God [say] all his thoughts." To him, there
is no God, and there will be no judgment. Yet is not such a man
already condemning himself with such thoughts by disregarding
his conscience?
5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out
of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
He puffs at people and they fall over.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall
never be in adversity.
Another curious translation. "Moved" is not wrong, but "slip"
or "fall" might be better. The KJV leaves untranslated the word
meaning "generation" that occurs twice. Literally it reads "to
generation and generation not in evil." Darby's translation has
it, "from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity."
NASB has it, "Throughout all generations I will not be in
adversity."
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his
tongue is mischief and vanity.
Compare to:
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by
thy words thou shalt be condemned.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and
bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's
religion is vain.
8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the
secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily
set against the poor.
9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in
wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth
him into his net.
10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by
his strong ones.
"Humbleth" can read "bows down," meaning in fake humility.
11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his
face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the
humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his
heart, Thou wilt not require it.
"Not require it" is translated by others as "not keep account."
The wicked do not believe God cares.
14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to
requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee;
thou art the helper of the fatherless.
God sees and often remains silent. Is this because God is
indifferent to the innocent and the poor or is He granting the
wicked more opportunity before rendering judgment?
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out
his wickedness till thou find none.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished
out of his land.
The Psalmist here seems concerned that Israel seeing the
wickedness of the nations around them may believe God doesn't
care and then begin to imitate the nations. Thus the prayer to
eliminate the wicked is for the benefit of both Israel and the
nations around them.
17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt
prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of
the earth may no more oppress.
God answered this prayer in part, I believe; but it still
remains to be answered fully. The urge to oppress our neighbors
for money seems a perpetual problem of humanity. Thus Jesus said
of this world:
Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye
have not always.
#Post#: 5024--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Amadeus Date: June 7, 2013, 9:16 am
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[quote]Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest
thou thyself in times of trouble?
Someone said once that we can know our character by what we do
when we think no one is looking. This Psalm reminds me of
that. It seems to me sometimes that God hides from us to see
what we will do if we aren't sure He's watching. Life with God
hiding at times seems like a test of our character. If we knew
for sure all the time that God was watching, perhaps we humans
would be tempted to act more hypocritically than we already
do.[/quote]
[font=courier]Even if we knew God was watching, would we
consider it in every moment and in every action? Probably not.
We are, apparently all hypocrites, or we are liars or perhaps a
bit of both, or are both the same thing? Recognition that we are
hypocrites and liars (assuming they are not exactly the same
thing) would probably be a giant step forward toward God. Until
we begin to really realize at least something about what we are
that displeases God, forward movement (toward God) may indeed be
impossible. [/font]
[quote]Voltaire, an atheist, said, "The safest course is to do
nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy
life and have no fear from death." It seems to me that Voltaire
was probably happy in his lifetime and truly had nothing to fear
from death. If we can believe what William Blake said, Voltaire
was in Heaven![/quote]
[font=courier]Not knowing much of Voltaire more than the name, I
look simply to the quoted statement. The question that comes to
my mind is, how trustworthy is my conscience or anyone else's?
Can the conscience change? Can a man by walking with God or
striving to walk with God have his conscience changed? Can a man
by walking the other direction... away from what I would
consider to be God's Way... change his conscience or is it
because of his conscience that he is able to make such a choice,
toward or away from God? [/font]
#Post#: 5025--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: George Date: June 7, 2013, 11:57 am
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[quote author=Amadeus link=topic=201.msg5024#msg5024
date=1370614609]
[font=courier]Even if we knew God was watching, would we
consider it in every moment and in every action? Probably not.
We are, apparently all hypocrites, or we are liars or perhaps a
bit of both, or are both the same thing? Recognition that we are
hypocrites and liars (assuming they are not exactly the same
thing) would probably be a giant step forward toward God. Until
we begin to really realize at least something about what we are
that displeases God, forward movement (toward God) may indeed be
impossible. [/font]
[/quote]
I agree with all that is stated here, It is a fact that a true
believer one who believes in an omni everything God who knows
our thoughts, could never think at any time that God might not
be looking. Yet we see, hear, and read about such heinous acts
committed by people of all different religions, and
denominations of Christians
I remember someone (Think Kerry) posted a reply with the
scripture let God be true, but every man a liar, and that really
hit home for me and made a lot of sense of all the confusion we
see in religion in the world today. I would say a hypocrite is a
liar and a liar is a hypocrite! The scripture say every man is a
liar, therefore to me a hypocrite, its one in the same. So
therefor I can see how it is said it is only by Gods Grace, I
would think according to our actions. Actions one to another
more so than actions of which religion one chooses, what dogmas
one lives by, what actions one takes for the purpose of
salvation such as baptism. Such as Jesus is quoted saying
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep
from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats
on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I
was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw
we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee
drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the
devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye
clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick,
or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did
it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
I love this scripture!
#Post#: 5039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 9, 2013, 7:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Amadeus link=topic=201.msg5024#msg5024
date=1370614609]
[font=courier][size=14pt]Not knowing much of Voltaire more than
the name, I look simply to the quoted statement. The question
that comes to my mind is, how trustworthy is my conscience or
anyone else's? Can the conscience change? Can a man by walking
with God or striving to walk with God have his conscience
changed?[/quote]Catholics talk sometimes about the informed
conscience. I think they are onto something with that.
When we begin walking on the path, I think we tend to be fairly
uninformed. We aren't as sensitive to others as we can be; and
I think the Holy Spirit shows us things. If we see our actions
are not helping others but making them uncomfortable, we back
off. That is not our intention. So the Holy Spirit shows us a
better way to do things. If our motive is to love better, I am
convinced our consciences will become better informed.
Thus what used to be okay for me when I was ignorant of things
may now become a sin to me. It is hard then for me to judge
anyone else by my own standard. I am convinced that if we obey
our consciences in areas we do know about, then l the Holy
Spirit will continue to guide us and improve our consciences.
Use what we are given already, and God will give us more.
Don't use it, and the heart hardens. I don't think the "new
heart of flesh" is "created" all at once. It's fashioned out of
the old one by softening it or even chipping away some parts.
#Post#: 5048--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Amadeus Date: June 10, 2013, 7:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote]Catholics talk sometimes about the informed conscience.
I think they are onto something with that. [/quote]
[font=courier]Absolutely![/font]
[quote]When we begin walking on the path, I think we tend to be
fairly uninformed. We aren't as sensitive to others as we can
be; and I think the Holy Spirit shows us things. If we see our
actions are not helping others but making them uncomfortable, we
back off. That is not our intention. So the Holy Spirit shows
us a better way to do things. If our motive is to love better,
I am convinced our consciences will become better
informed.[/quote]
[font=courier]I always come back to this verse:
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,
shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is
given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke
12:48[/font]
[quote]Thus what used to be okay for me when I was ignorant of
things may now become a sin to me. It is hard then for me to
judge anyone else by my own standard. I am convinced that if
we obey our consciences in areas we do know about, then l the
Holy Spirit will continue to guide us and improve our
consciences. Use what we are given already, and God will give
us more. Don't use it, and the heart hardens. I don't think
the "new heart of flesh" is "created" all at once. It's
fashioned out of the old one by softening it or even chipping
away some parts.[/quote]
[font=courier]I like this about the heart hardening because we
don't use what we are given. This fits right in to Pharaoh in
the time of Moses. Even as the new heart of flesh is not created
all at once, we do not usually become reprobate because we mess
up with God one time. [/font]
#Post#: 5051--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Mike Date: June 10, 2013, 8:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Kerry link=topic=201.msg5039#msg5039
date=1370822631]
[quote author=Amadeus link=topic=201.msg5024#msg5024
date=1370614609]
[font=courier][size=14pt]Not knowing much of Voltaire more than
the name, I look simply to the quoted statement. The question
that comes to my mind is, how trustworthy is my conscience or
anyone else's? Can the conscience change? Can a man by walking
with God or striving to walk with God have his conscience
changed?[/quote]Catholics talk sometimes about the informed
conscience. I think they are onto something with that.
When we begin walking on the path, I think we tend to be fairly
uninformed. We aren't as sensitive to others as we can be; and
I think the Holy Spirit shows us things. If we see our actions
are not helping others but making them uncomfortable, we back
off. That is not our intention. So the Holy Spirit shows us a
better way to do things. If our motive is to love better, I am
convinced our consciences will become better informed.
Thus what used to be okay for me when I was ignorant of things
may now become a sin to me. It is hard then for me to judge
anyone else by my own standard. I am convinced that if we obey
our consciences in areas we do know about, then l the Holy
Spirit will continue to guide us and improve our consciences.
Use what we are given already, and God will give us more.
Don't use it, and the heart hardens. I don't think the "new
heart of flesh" is "created" all at once. It's fashioned out of
the old one by softening it or even chipping away some parts.
[/quote]
Catholics sometimes (if not often) talk a lot more sense than
Protestants.
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