Heralds Digest

“Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭ 9:13-14 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.9.13-14.nkjv   The arrival of the experience of precious praise indicates the departure of the experience of painful problem. Whether in form of family problem, work-related challenges, or difficulties in the drive towards the achievement of life’s goals, the ease of finding the exit door from the LORD has always depended on the motive. Needless to mention that many have often decided to find the easy way out elsewhere, by selling their souls to the devil. But the righteous will always wait upon the LORD for salvation from the “gates of death” experiences of life. And while answer to pray tarries, heaven is always concerned about the motive for deliverance. That is, “Is this for personal pleasure or ...

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalms 8:2 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.8.2.NKJV   Just like the furnace of fire is appreciated by pure gold, babes and nursing infants hardly allow offences to rob the fun off the circles of their annoying friends. Without prejudice to the veracity of wickedness from external forces against progress and development in life, man's number one enemy is his heart. The scripture says the heart is deceitful and its wickedness is painfully unknown even to self. Therefore, keeping the baggage of offences and ill-feeling, especially against someone who even doesn't realize the forbidden line has been crossed, as often robbed the heart from good health and free life. And woe betide the heart of man when the accused offender is its Creator. Whereas, the psalmist provided the secret of pure praise as the possession of the mouth o...

“I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.7.17.nkjv The resentment of God’s righteousness on the basis of people’s wickedness has a common denominator, which is the misunderstanding of the naughtiness of man in the light of God’s worthiness. Unfortunately, empty praise is commonly inspired by the sense of appreciating God’s assistance towards the achievement of man’s apparent worthiness. But the Psalmist - the personification of potent praise - says ‘I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness’, not blame Him according to the wickedness of the wicked. In fact, the wicked is terribly shamed when the upright in heart choose to focus on appreciating the magnificence of the LORD Most High, irrespective of the wicked’s devotion to unrighteousness and ungodly manipulations. Song of praise in the ears and heart of a praise person is a more balanced and nu...

“Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.7.9.nkjv   The only difference between wiles and wisdom is just the hearts and minds. To the wicked in heart, wiles is wisdom as long as his enterprise is achieved. Although David was overwhelmed by the wickedness of the wicked, he was able to distinguish between wickedness and the wicked because of the wisdom of God. It takes wisdom to focus on “let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end”, instead of “let the wicked come to an end!”. Unfortunately, we cannot be free from the complexity of wickedness leading to the destruction of the wicked, if we actually pray for their destruction. Nothing else, apart from godly wisdom, is proven as a reliable tool against wicked wiles.

“But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.4.3.nkjv   Someone elsewhere somehow paraphrased the Psalmist by saying “Although God doesn’t always answer with a ‘Yes’, He always answer with what’s best!”. Unfortunately, the activities of the wicked in the life of the upright in heart are mostly calculated distractions. However, the righteous needs a consistent confidence in his prayer-answering God. When the eyes of the godly are fixed on God, the best in store are always kept in perspective at any turnout from life’s events. Outside the presence of God lies all kinds of manipulation, in-fighting, and the sacrifices of ungodliness for the recognized recommendations. Even when the righteous appeared to have been deliberately shortchanged, it is good to know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly for a reserved recommendation.

“Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭ 2:11-12 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.2.11-12.nkjv   Fruitful fellowship in life and family is mostly premised on the provision of the material things for entertainment, comfort and pleasure. Unfortunately, the desire for freshness in fellowship often lead to the misconception of the true of object of fellowship. The material things of the world have attracted the fellowship of the kings, the noble men, and the earthly honourable. Whereas, wisdom teaches the supremacy of a sincere fellowship with the LORD. In fact, fellowship with Christ is synonymous to a fellowship with the Father, for those who finds the reliable way to a fruitful fellowship.

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.1.1.nkjv   In season of social distancing or isolation, it doesn’t take a walk along a physical path to find one’s body, soul and spirit in scornful seats. Passion for a fan-filled fellowship does readily find all the can of worms, ungodly counsel, immorality and profanity in any pocket-sized device with access to the internet. Therefore, the Psalmist opened the floor with the highlights on danger zones for those who truly desire constant spiritual freshness and consistent fruitful fellowship with the Lord. Ungodly counsels are not necessarily filtered on the net, but the godly can refuse browsing the contents even when the pages incidentally stare at the eyes. Likewise, accepting an invitation to sinful events and graceless activities now require nothing more than a click; but the righteo...