Today's Reading July 22

Good morning. Off to church in a short while.
This morning we take up Psalms 36 and 37. Many of these Psalms were written by David, not in times of peace and plenty, but in times of struggle and trouble, sometimes when he was in hiding and running for his life. Yet he had the ability, the faith, to see beyond the circumstances of the moment, something we also have to do. And to do that requires faith in the Lord. Usually that faith has some basis in experience - I know the Lord can do this because I know what He has done for me and for others. It's a growing in the Lord. Hence, from Psalm 37,

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

and

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Hang on, it's just getting started. God has not forgotten you and what is happening is not hidden from Him. Trust Him.

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This evening we turn to verses 1 through 11 of Acts chapter 23. This continues the early stages of the path that will take Paul to Rome. Indeed, while imprisoned (an inconvenient fact the 'name it and claim it' [also known as the blab it and grab it] crowd dislikes to mention), the Lord tells him he must now go to Rome. But before that, Paul appears before the Jewish Council and states part of his case.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Which is certainly wise.