Old Testament Proclamations Worthy of Reclamation
/A Davidic Psalm.
I will sing of faithful love and justice;
I will sing praise to You, LORD.
I will pay attention to the way of integrity.
When will You come to me?
I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.
I will not set anything worthless before my eyes.
I hate the practice of transgression;
it will not cling to me.
A devious heart will be far from me;
I will not be involved with evil.
I will destroy anyone
who secretly slanders his neighbor;
I cannot tolerate anyone
with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.
My eyes favor the faithful of the land
so that they may sit down with me.
The one who follows the way of integrity
may serve me.
No one who acts deceitfully
will live in my palace;
no one who tells lies
will remain in my presence.
Every morning I will destroy
all the wicked of the land,
eliminating all evildoers from the LORD’s city.
How do we apply these proclamations to today?
I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I choose to praise you. the songs in my life will glorify God and speak of his truths.
I will praise you and be careful to live blamelessly and wait on you to help me in areas I need grace. studying his word will help me pinpoint blemishes in my life he can fix. I will not willfully sin against him, and I will repent of any infraction to continue to walk blamelessly
I will lead a life of integrity in my home without hypocrisy before my family. I will lead the same life in private that I project in public, and my children and spouse will testify to the integrity I profess.
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. on my television, on my phone, on my computer, walking down the street, when in private, with my family or with co-workers.
I will have nothing to do with all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I refuse to benefit from illegal and immoral means. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. even if it is family or a boss that suggest evil, I will flee from it
I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors I will not endure conceit and pride. I will not flatter proud people even if it means a loss
I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house and liars will not stay in my presence.
My daily tasks will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. I will volunteer my support, voice, time and money into endeavors that free people from the corruption of the world
How many of us have looked at this Psalm and have quietly been in awe at David's proclamation. We swept the words away when the bible was shut justifying our life that is in opposition. We view David as a different breed of a man. "He was a king. He had God's anointing," we say. We negate the resurrection power of the Cross and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit when we excuse our self from the faith of that of the patriarchs. God is the same today as he was yesterday; we have greater promises, and a new covenant based on Jesus. He lived a sinless life to lead us out of captivity, so that we can influence others.
What little sins, or wicked people have we allowed to come and set up shop in our life? The people that we suffer to influence our speech, time , and emotions should be in hope and expectation of growth in God. This is the same for things or activities. I know a lot of people will get mad at me for making that statement, but we are called to redeem the times, and warned that our life is but a mist or vapor.
What businesses and or media groups are profiting off of us, that we should not support? I saw many men get mad at ESPN for making headlines and announce gender equality as a goal. How many small groups have gotten together with their children to watch the Super Bowl or a foot ball game with cheerleaders dressed in a little more than a box of floss? What Christian mechanic has magazines laying around with women slathered on the front end of a car like a piece of bacon?
Do you have girlfriends that want to talk about other men being the ideal man while bashing her own husband? Do you engage in church gossip, or do you stop it? Do you have that one family member or neighbor that insists on talking about others?
Are the relationships we have cultivated redeeming the times? Or, Are we just rubbing elbows with like minded people? How many people have we allowed inside our circle that challenge us to grow in our relationship with Christ? Or do we surround ourselves with people we think are morally inferior to us? We tell them about God all the time, and rush to help them when they fall in to sin or trouble. We love these kind of relationships because it takes our focus off our own failures, and helps us ignore our own sin. Sometimes our pride keeps us from realizing there are times we should refuse fellowship with the unrepentant until they can lay it down. We think our multitude of words and selfless actions will convince them to get their life straight. We are not God, and we are told not to throw our pearls to swine. We risk getting torn to shreds.
No , God is not calling us to abolish every person that defies Him, and yes he calls us to love the world but he has not called us to compromise our morals in the name of entertainment, money, or relationship. Many people and ministries are going out and doing good. There is a difference in tithe and offering, and we are supposed to give both. We should have confidence our money goes the farthest it can in the name of Jesus. Are there companies that donate to ministries for the poor, addicted, or enslaved? They should be on our list of time and money. David said," I have been careful to lead a blameless life." We should give attention to our actions. He said every morning he looks to ferret out the wicked.
How many of us start our day out with a plan to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves?
We will be called judgmental bigots, or zealots, but the truth is as long as the world turns, we run the risk of being called something. Why not redeem the times in obedience to God, and watch him work when we intentionally come out and be separated?
We should be able to read Psalm 101 and declare the same things David did, filtered by the power of the cross.
Song of Solomon 2:15 Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
Lord help me be able to make the same proclamations as David. Thank you for your blood that covers my sin, and frees me from being a slave. Thank you for your word that gives me wisdom and faith to have victory in temptation. Thank you Holy Spirit for strengthening me to be in the world but not of it. Help me be Holy as you are Holy.
