Do you ever get tired of bad news. The economy - prices up, value down. Our dollar is in decline, our culture is in decline, morally, we're in decline. It's an election year, and the air seems to be alternately filled with bad news and bad promises. It would be so easy to absorb the negative ooze all around us - to let the negative energy reprogram our satisfaction.
Spending some time with God yesterday morning brought me much encouragement. I read Psalm 12 and listened as David spoke my heart -
Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! (v.1 nlt)
And then he listed a number of examples. See if 1000 BC sounds like 2008.
Neighbors lie to each other
A generation speaks with flattering lips and insincere hearts (v.2)
Violence is done to the helpless. The poor and needy groan for relief. (v.5)
The wicked strut about and evil is praised in the land (v.8)
Sounds like reality TV, huh!
It just doesn't sound like men have changed much in a couple of thousand years. Thankfully, neither has our God. He reminds us that He is the same "yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb 13:8) Last time I checked, we still need saving and God is still in the saving business. Aren't you glad?
Listen to what David found and see if you find it too -
5 The LORD replies, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do." 6 The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. (Psalm 12:5-6 nlt)
David's conclusion - mine too. See if it's yours:
Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation... (v.7 - emphasis mine)
Be encouraged. I know who you can trust.
= Mike
