David is frustrated. Can you tell?

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He is so frustrated that he feels there is no more good in the world, no one who loves the Lord. His poem turns back around–like it usually does–to the goodness and faithfulness of God despite the evil all around him.

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This particular psalm could have been written at any point in David’s life, but especially when he was young in Saul’s court. David and the Jewish people had peace at times later on in his life, but to a king like David, that peace is probably not what I would call peace. It’s probably a peace still filled with worry and unknowns and self doubt bearing such a great responsibility.

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The Hebrew word for fool in this psalm is “nabal.” Do you remember that name? Read 1 Samuel 25 if you don’t know the story. Nabal was a wealthy man who disrespected and dishonored a young David and his well known fighting soldiers. During those times, an act such as this could get all males (regardless of age) killed and all females, animals, and goods carried off. Not an uncommon thing to happen in the ancient world. In Samuel this very thing was moments from happening while Nabal partied away the evening oblivious to what was rounding the corner behind him…

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Nabal was a fool David chose the word “nabal” on purpose in this psalm. He’s not referring to people who struggle to understand God, who battle with doubts, and for sure he didn’t mean those who never have the ability to love and accept God into their lives because of emotional or mental difficulties..

David refers to a fool who chooses to disregard God out of selfishness, conceit, pride; the “I am my own god” attitude. Those are the fools.

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The fool doesn’t just say “I’ve got this myself; I’m good” in his head, but he says it in his heart. What an empty place that must be.

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This is an interesting idea when we love someone who doesn’t believe. Right? The mind and the heart.

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I once saw a debate between Bill Nye (the “Science guy”) and Ken Ham (Creationist/Professor), two polar opposites when it comes to God and creation. After watching that, I came to realize that Bill Nye will never be persuaded that there is a God with his head. In his head, he has the world all figured out. During the debate, there were times when Ken tried to reach Bill’s heart, but how does one get past a mind that has decided already?Do you know someone who has reasoned away God with their mind? All is not lost, reach the heart..

Charles Spurgeon says this, “Let the preacher aim at the heart, and preach the all-conquering love of Jesus, and he will by God’s grace win more doubters to the faith of the gospel than any hundred of the best reasoners who only direct their arguments to the head.”

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God wants head and heart, of course. He sent Jesus to reach our hearts.

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David goes on to speak of his people, the “poor,” as he referred to others as the “fool.”

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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen David refer to the Lord’s people as the “poor.” In the New Testament, we often hear the term “the poor in spirit.”

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What does this mean?

The above verses are all about the “poor” or the “poor in spirit.” This is so amazing. I love it when God reveals new things to me in His Word.

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Synonyms to the Biblical word “poor”: contrite spirit, crushed spirit, brokenhearted, humility, fear of the Lord.

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My words: the one who falls short, the sinner, the one who knows she’s lost without Jesus!

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Believe it or not, I found some understanding on Wikipedia! I usually only head there for dates and further research, but this is cool…

Scholars agree that “poor in spirit” does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Spirit, or religious awareness. Rather it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one. In fact, the more self aware a person is of his or her spiritual poverty caused by the innate human condition of the sinful nature, the more one is humbly aware that they are “poor in spirit” left to his or her own way without Jesus Christ as Savior. Without Jesus the Christ alive and active in one’s soul, it remains in a completely impoverished spiritual state; once a person declares Jesus as Lord and Savior of his or her life, Jesus sustains them through a daily renewing of their poo spirit:

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_5:3

The world will get us down, but we can also do it to ourselves. Choose in your heart today to love the Lord. Let that mind of ours do it’s own thing.

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Just give your heart to Jesus through a humble and broken spirit.

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And let it all go….

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/7a/99/a17a99584fdcafe4b0362a084ce36c55.jpg

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Father in heaven, our spirits are broken today. We are broken by the news and state of our world. We are broken and relying upon you financially, and we are broken by worry and fear. We give this all to you, Father. There is nothing in this world that surprises you, that you have not seen before, or that you cannot handle. We know you will turn this trial into good. Heal this land, protect our loved ones, and strengthen your church. Amen.

Hexoxo