The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 123:3-4,
"Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end
of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of
contempt from the proud."
The psalmist looks for relief from the Lord due to the contempt and
ridicule suffered at the hands of the arrogant and proud.
Merriam-Webster defines contempt as the act of despising. Disdain and
scorn are synonyms. We are told in the Scriptures that we would do
well to expect this kind of treatment for those the psalmist
identifies as arrogant and proud. The "arrogant and proud" are those
who not only reject God, but hold in contempt those things that are
God's, including his people. This is something that is ingrained in
mankind and we read of it going all the way back to Adam and Eve's
offspring, Cain and Abel.
Here is an interesting observation from the apostle John, "Anyone who
claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in
the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the
light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone
who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in
the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the
darkness has blinded them." John 2:9-11. Clearly those who hold God's
people in contempt are lost in a darkness as they lash out at God's
people.
And, of course, John famously said these words as well, "Do not be
surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you."
An important reminder...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply
and let me know.
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 123:3-4,
"Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end
of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of
contempt from the proud."
The psalmist looks for relief from the Lord due to the contempt and
ridicule suffered at the hands of the arrogant and proud.
Merriam-Webster defines contempt as the act of despising. Disdain and
scorn are synonyms. We are told in the Scriptures that we would do
well to expect this kind of treatment for those the psalmist
identifies as arrogant and proud. The "arrogant and proud" are those
who not only reject God, but hold in contempt those things that are
God's, including his people. This is something that is ingrained in
mankind and we read of it going all the way back to Adam and Eve's
offspring, Cain and Abel.
Here is an interesting observation from the apostle John, "Anyone who
claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in
the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the
light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone
who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in
the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the
darkness has blinded them." John 2:9-11. Clearly those who hold God's
people in contempt are lost in a darkness as they lash out at God's
people.
And, of course, John famously said these words as well, "Do not be
surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you."
An important reminder...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply
and let me know.
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