Scripture
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
~Psalms 52:8, NRSV
Quote
“Let us lean on Christ with all our weight. Let us throw ourselves on His faithfulness as we do on our beds, bringing all our weariness to His dear rest.”
~Charles H. Spurgeon
Psalm 52 was written by David as he recounts the horrific event that took place at Nob when Doeg the Edomite slaughtered an entire community of unarmed priest. Doeg was a despicable character who promoted himself at the expense of truth and justice. As his name suggest, he was a coward, a man ruled by fear much like his boss Saul. Doeg kissed up to Saul for one reason, he wanted to gain power and wealth. He was a typical Edomite with an inverted morality: Doeg loved evil and hated good. He prefered a lie to the truth if it accomplished his purpose. In other words, he was a democrat. Like Esau his forefather, he loved what he should have hated and hated what he should have loved. When Saul ordered his body guards to execute the priest of Nob, they refused to left a hand against the holy men of God {I Sam.22:17} but Doeg didn’t hesitate, he took delight in slaughtering them all with his sword. He murdered 85 priest, their wives, children and livestock. Only one man escaped, Abiathar who fled to David for refuge.
The point I wish to make today is one that will reinforce what we talked about earlier this week. David refers to himself as a green olive tree in the house of God. The olive tree is known for its fruitfulness and longevity. Fruitfulness is a synonym for ‘blessings’. David was anointed by God {through Samuel the prophet}. God gave him victory in the field; David never lost a battle. Then God established his kingdom. God also inspired David to write these Psalms. I think that David was thinking more about his kingdom when he wrote this Psalm than God’s but little did he know that God had something much greater in mind. David was an olive tree, he was a blessing to the entire nation while he lived and now 3,000 years later he is a blessing to the world through these inspired Psalms. This truth blows my mind. Our God is an awesome God. He deserves more praise than we give Him.
Would You Like to Worship–Watch this and pay attention to the words
In an interview with RNS [Religious News Service] columnist Jonathan Merritt Peterson was asked, “If you were pastoring today and a gay couple in your church who were Christians of good faith asked you to perform their same-sex wedding ceremony, is that something you would do?” Peterson had responded with one word: yes.
This set off a fire storm with LifeWay threatening to take the Message off their shelves. One day later the Presbyterian Minister and author of the Message retracted his statement saying, To clarify, I affirm a biblical view of marriage: one man to one woman. I affirm a biblical view of everything. Morality is God based and time will never change what is right or what is wrong. The Gays and the libs are whistling in the wind. They can squawk all they want but wrong is wrong, sin is sin and it is not going to change. I get sick of hearing the libs say, “Come on, we are living in the 21st century.” As if somehow, wrong became right at the change of of the century. I am glad Eugene retracted his statement but it is a bit troubling. He has wrote some good stuff. His introductions to the minor prophets are outstanding.
- Hannah got a rain and we didn’t and she is only a 2 miles away. I could have used one on our pea patch but we are hurting, not yet. It did get warm.
- BLOCK PARTY August 5, 6:00-9:00. June is racking clothes for the grace barn and hopefully you are doing the same. We are following the same format, we sit up the GRACE BARN on Thursday night August 3 at 5:00. You can bring your stuff from that point on. Just 21 days till the PARTY.
- Junior Hill this Sunday morning at 10:15
