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Crying For Help – Reflection on Psalm 61

Psalm 61

Where Can We Go?

Life gets bogged down. We take two steps forward, but because of unforeseen challenges, we take six steps back. Frustration ensues as our problems loom large and solutions are no where in sight. We become so fixated on our problems that we can no longer see past them. We believe we are trapped with no way out. Getting caught in details and missing the big picture is easy. Sometimes a higher perspective helps us get out of the weeds of our problems.
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Purposeful Problems – Reflection on Psalm 59

Psalm 59:1-17

Jokers to the Left, Clowns to the Right

I don’t like problems. When I have a problem I try to fix it, or get it fixed, as soon as I have. Problems are enemies which work against my goals and agenda.

Imagine my surprise when the psalmist ask God to allow his enemies, who represents threats to his goals and agendas, to hang around! Usually in these psalms, the psalmist asks God to destroy his enemies in no uncertain terms. This time, however, he doesn’t. Even though he wants to be delivered from his enemies, in verse 11, he asks God to not destroy them!
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Destroy the Wicked – Reflection on Psalm 58

Psalm 58:1-11

Psalm 58

Watching the World Burn

People gravitate toward the Psalms because of their complete and utter realness. I was taught that if I didn’t have anything nice to say…then don’t say anything. The psalmist doesn’t follow such motherly advice. Instead, the psalmist lets his fury fly.

There’s a scene in The Dark Night when Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) is trying to understand the Joker’s motivation. Alfred (played by Michael Cane) shares a story about trying to negotiate with tribal leaders in Burma with precious stones. However, a bandit kept stealing the stones. When they went looking for the bandit and the stones, they discovered the bandit had been throwing the stones away.

Wayne asks, “Why steal them?”
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