Today’s reading is Psalm 11.
The third foundation David will not abandon and that has not been destroyed is the righteousness of God. That righteousness is demonstrated by God living according to His name. His name declares that He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, abounding in faithfulness, and forgiving. However, it also declares that He will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7). Those who abandon God’s moral principles, pursuing and persisting in guilt will be judged. God’s righteousness is not primarily a declaration that God is always right. Rather, it is a declaration that God always lives according to His name. It would be folly for David to abandon God while he is living in the crucible of God’s testing. Why? Because He will always live according to His name. Everyone who abandons God, turns away from Him, pursues and persists in guilt, gets judged. Every single one. There are no exceptions, not even for David, King of Israel. God will rain down coals of fire and send scorching winds upon the one who loves and persists in violence. This means two things for David. First, the people who are pursuing violence toward him may appear to be getting away with it for now, but David knows in the end, the righteous God always judges those who love violence. Second, he wants no part of their sin. He doesn’t want to respond to them in like manner because he is no exception to God’s righteousness. It’s a foundation. God is righteous. And that is exactly the way we want Him to be.
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 11.
A Word for Our Kids
Hey kids, does raining coals of fire and sulfur down on folks sound familiar? That is exactly what God did on Sodom and Gomorrah. David’s point is that is what awaits everyone who decides to persist in guilt. Yes, God is happy to forgive those who repent and recant their sin. But do not believe God’s love means He ignores those who want to pursue their sins more than they want to pursue Him. God so decidedly wants to forgive people that He poured out His wrath on Jesus on the cross so that He had the basis on which to bestow mercy, grace, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness. However, those who refuse to turn to Jesus will not be justified. That is, they will not be made innocent. They will stand guilty. And they will be judged. God’s grace is free, but it isn’t cheap. Don’t think grace is the get out of hell free card that simply allows you to pursue sin. It isn’t. But it is the reason you can give your allegiance to Jesus and have your sins forgiven. Praise the Lord. He is righteous.
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