Today’s reading is Psalm 26.
We mentioned Psalm 1 yesterday. Remember it again today. That psalm made a distinction between the blessed and the wicked. But there is more to the choice than just being the blessed or being the wicked. David understands that if He is going to dwell in the Lord’s holy habitation at the summit of the Lord’s holy hill, he has to be careful who his friends are. In Psalm 15, another psalm that questions who can dwell in the Lord’s house (similar to Psalm 24), David recorded that the holy hill dweller is one “in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord.” In a day and age, such as our own, dominated by the concept of tolerance, we can lose sight of the fact that the Lord does not tolerate everyone. Those who pursue what is false, hypocrites, evildoers, and those who practice wickedness are not tolerated by the Lord in His own house. And while nothing makes God happier than for these to repent, submit to Him, and then come live with Him, nothing will make God bring these into His house while they continue in their sin. And so, back to Psalm 1, the person who walks with the wicked, hangs out with the sinful, settles down with scoffers will not be blessed. David loves Yahweh. He loves worshiping Yahweh. He loves those who worship Yahweh in truth. He knows that if he hangs out with the impenitently sinful and rebellious now, he will be hanging out with them for eternity. He loves the Lord and those who love the Lord. He loves the Lord’s friends. While we can never go out of the world (see 1 Corinthians 5:10), and while we certainly must develop relationships with the impenitently sinful in order to lead them to repentance, we must make sure our closest relationships are those who have their closest relationship with Yahweh. And doesn’t that just make sense? I mean, it is kind of hard to dwell in Yahweh’s house if I’m having to constantly abandon it to hang out with my best friends. Who are your best friends?
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 26.
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A Word for Our Kids
Hey kids, I’m not sure if you are also reading the posts I write for your parents. But today’s is really important for you as well. We live in a world full of all kinds of people. We will have all kinds of friends. I understand there are all kinds of reasons to have a wide array of friends. It is good to meet, know, understand folks from all walks of life and with all kinds of perspectives. Additionally, because our goal is to bring as many people to Jesus as possible, we will spend time and develop relationships with the sick who need the Great Physician and not just with those who are already His patients. BUT!!! And that is a very big BUT!!! Your best and closest friends must always be those who want to serve Yahweh, following Jesus, more than they want anything else. Notice, I didn’t say your best and closest friends must be those who “go to church” with you. Sadly, not everyone who is a member of a church wants to serve Yahweh more than they want to do anything else. David refused to be best friends with those who followed falsehood and also with those who were hypocrites. He loved the Lord, so he loved the Lord’s friends. Make sure your best friends are the Lord’s best friends as well. I promise, you’ll be glad you did.
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