Trivia:
Here's a good trivia question. What year did yellow become the color norm for Tennis Balls? 1954; 1989; 1972; 1835? Make your guess.
On the lighter side:
Do you know what did one plate say to the other plate? This time the Dinner's on me.
Challenge:
Psalm 10:1-3 "O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble? The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others. For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the Lord."
This Psalm begins with two requests for God to help the writer to understand His stance in response to those individuals who are dedicated to evil actions.
As children we learned early on to respond to our parents instruction and then to ask for an explanation later. To quote my mother "Delayed obedience is disobedience". As a child I used to hate those words, for I felt I deserved an explanation before my obedient action. I can remember my mother going on to say, "If I tell you to stop when you are crossing the street and you fail to obey, you would be struck by that car".
In these next verses He explains why the writer needed an explanation as to why God was hesitent in His actions towards the questioner. The wording used here is written in the form of a question, but is rather an emphatic statement regarding the wicked (actively rebellous one towards God).
Then the writer explains the reasons for his questioning God's seeming inactivity:
1) they hunt down those who are weakened in order to bring harm to them
2) they are continually planning evil, harmful ways to hurt others
3) then afterwards they take pride in the harm that they placed on others
4) they rejoice in the hurtful activities that they have indulged in
5). to top it all off they applaud those who commit greedy, selfish works, while they reject God's care
for those that they bring harm to
This chapter helps us recognize that questioning God is an acceptable practice, as long as we are continuing to walk in obedience, and recognizing the evil ones motivations, and ultimate consequence.
As we read on, we will continue to recognize that there are long term consequences when refusing to obey the Lord. Then the Psalmist goes on to list these actions of the wicked ones. (4-15) Then he is quick to lay out the consequences of living in these ways.
SO GO WITH GOD for it may appear that Gods is ignoring those who commit these evil works, but that conclusion is wrong. He is actively striving to draw those who are conducting evil back to righteous conduct, but will once they prove themselves to be unreachable, Then He will bring justice to all, those being oppressed and those who are oppressing. He is wise in all of His ways,
to those who refuse to heed His words and to those who are obedient in walking in His path. Both of these ones will be rewarded for their conduct.
1954