Psalms 12:6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
 
TO purify silver seven times is to perfectly refine it, so all droos is removed and only the metal remains. Those who use pure silver for currency, tools or artwork know they are using an infallible metal. They can trust its strength to remain valuable through years of use and exposure to natural elements. David illustrated God’s pure word as that silver. You can believe it is useful and enduring in all circumstances.
   But we know that God’s Word is seldom considered pure and enduring. It’s no exaggeration to say that wherever we look today – even in the church – God’s Word is defined more as the dross that is removed from the silver. Many hold the Bible and the Christian message in contempt. Some churches refuse to consider the Old Testament, and others delete Jesus’ words that do not fit their view of God.
   This, of course, reflects Satan’s design and purpose. He instilled this hatred for God’s Word in the mind of our first parents, and it has remained an impurity in our natural sin nature.
   But we have been called to the purifying faith in Jesus. In response to God’s eternal, holy gift, we are commanded to trust, believe, obey and live God’s pure word into a world that desperately needs refining. Tell the world who God is, so people will know God’s Word is pure. How do we do that?
   One way is to tell is to testify of the Bible’s impact on your life. How has God’s pure word helped you? Has it impacted your decisions regarding your occupation, your marriage or your finances, for example? How has God’s pure word refined your morals to help you resist temptation? What Scriptures did you read when you felt afraid? When did God’s pure word help you to know how much God loves you? How does Scripture help you know the true meaning of love and joy?
   Jesus commanded you to testify of his truth, so you will enrich the world: Matthew 5:13a “You are the salt of the earth…14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. The Truth (John 14:6) commands you to declare has pure, refined, flawless truth to the world. Your testimony is to be an effective outpouring of the way you live into God’s Word. Your faith must be an active light to direct a confused world lost in lies. Jesus further admonished, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthw 5:14b-16) Salt and light are life only when one uses them.
   Put your faith to work in your life, so you can tell others how it works for you. You can’t simply read or hear what God says and then leave it in the Bible or in the church or Bible study. If you want salt, you eat it. If you want light, you light the match.
   When you really use God’s Word in your real life, you will watch it refine your life into God’s truth. You will be able, then, to help others see our pure LORD, too.
   2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (NLT)
 
 

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
 
ONE way we know God is to know his throne is a display of his pure power. Here’s an exalted description from Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Majesty, beauty and honor describe God’s throne.
   There is also the expression of the Lord’s majestic throne in Revelation 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
   God’s majesty and wonder exceeds our understanding. From his throne, God observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. Put simply, God knows everything. This phrase has the meaning of squinting your eyes to closely examine something. From holy perfection and beauty, God “squints” into the world, into our hearts and minds to discern our innermost character. He is the King of Glory, who knows and controls every item on earth as he desires. The LORD knows the hearts of the wicked and of the righteous. You cannot escape his observations. Give thanks he surely knows what you need, so you receive his merciful care to live well into his truth. Psalms 147:5 Great is our LORD and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
   We know his understanding discerns wrong and right. Psalms 11:5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. We know he is perfect in knowledge: Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
   How do you respond to this? Are you afraid God knows too much about you? Or do you understand that even amid your shortcomings, he deeply loves you? How gracious he is to cleanse your heart and soul when you are faithful to confess your sin. You can have a true relationship with God because you believe he is the Majestic One who personally understands you from his mighty heavenly throne. The Triune God powerfully connects you to himself and welcomes you into his throne room. In his holy presence you will forever know how wondrous it is to be a child of God. 

Psalm 10:8-9, 11, 14 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. 9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.” …14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
 
THE psalmist portrays a dark picture of murderous criminals awaiting and destroying their victims. We know this is very real. Violent people attack others on the streets, in workplaces, at home and even in churches. Apparently this kind of violence was common 3,000 years ago. Amid such attacks that can erupt at any moment, how do we trust God is the helper of the fatherless?
   Helper in the Hebrew language is the basis for Jesus. The meaning of Jesus is Jehovah is salvation, he protects and delivers. When we think of Jesus, we can easily consider that God is surrounding you with himself. All God is becomes available to aid you, even as evil wants to destroy you. Several times the Scriptures say as in Psalms 118:7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. We can picture this as Jesus victorious over sin in the final judgment. He eternally surrounds and protects all who are saved in him.  
   Fatherless defines those who are alone or without aid. Sometimes these can be orphaned children. Other times it could point to people who have no support. And other times you can point to any victim of a violent crime as fatherless – without help or aid at the moment. How does God help anyone who is in distress, attacked spiritually or physically? Where is he when people are robbed or murdered?
   This is another real question (See previous lesson.) we must confront in our Christian life. It’s easy to say, “God is good all the time.” when things are essentially good. But what do you say or do when decent, godly people become evil’s victims?
   The psalm goes on to say in verse 15 (God will) break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. When does that happen? Does it matter after the victim has suffered the crime? Wouldn’t it have been better for God to help the fatherless before the crime?
   Yes, it would have. And we don’t know how many times the LORD has stopped crime before it happened. What we do know is the righteous God will help us as we commit to him in response to all circumstances.
   Yes, current events can cause us to wonder if God is helping us. Let’s, then, keep our eyes on the cross. Jesus is our Helper because for a moment in time, the Son of God was fatherless. He cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  (Matthew 27:46) The Son died. He knows what it means when violent men drag the helpless into their net. The resurrected Lord Jesus also knows the evil perish. And he knows the righteous live eternally with him. No one is fatherless under the Father’s righteous help.
 

Psalm 9: 4, 7-9 For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously…7 The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. 9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
 
DAVID was celebrating his army’s victory over Israel’s enemies. He rejoiced the LORD is a righteous judge. Is it easy to say this when we “win” – when the LORD answers our prayers with a big, “Yes!” Can we believe the LORD is a righteous judge when life’s circumstances are difficult, when it seems the enemy is winning?
   In many contexts through the centuries, the Christian church and God’s faithful people could have doubted that God judges righteously. Too often, it appears the enemy is winning and having his way. When people talk of the church’s decline today, for example, where is God’s justice? How do we respond to laws that seem to restrict our right to speak and live our faith?
   One thing to know is that Jesus prophesied to his apostles – and ultimately to his church – the Christian life would be a troubled life with dangerous opposition: Luke 21:12 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them.”
   Where’s the Righteous Judge as his people are persecuted and killed for their obedience to him? Righteousness defines God’s perfect character. It is his holiness, justice and faithfulness to declare and fulfill his promises to mankind. Jesus’ righteousness is his perfect life, even obedience unto death to be your Savior. Often the LORD is defining his righteousness through the trouble. He wanted Israel, and now the church, to know his way is the true way unto life. Evil leads only to death.  
   God’s righteous justice is a cleansing agent. He will not allow sin and injustice to be in his land. Examples of this are God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Church history, too, demonstrates times when God cleansed his church of false teachings.
   And do you see his justice in your life? Have you experienced an awakening to understand your thoughts or behavior opposed God’s laws? Do you understand how something you are doing hurts another? Perhaps God is showing you that you lack the faith you need to have a righteous relationship with him. It is possible he is allowing trial in your life, so you know his truth is your only sure help. The LORD wants you to believe Psalm 9:18 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
   The end result of God’s righteous justice is your eternal life. You could not expect an end to evil if Jesus had not perfectly fulfilled God’s righteous laws. God’s righteous justice points to his absolute truth. Know that truth. And believe this is  his rule forevermore.

Psalms 8:1-9 O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
 
THIS psalm is a series of praises to celebrate the LORD God as creator. His personal mark is on all things from the sea to the heavens above. Our LORD means our Jehovah (or Yahweh). He is the eternal creator God. We revere his name, knowing he has made himself visible and available to mankind.
   Imagine, if you can, the LORD God – Jehovah – the eternal God is mindful of you. He has made you a little lower than the angels and has given you a purpose for life in his world. He has commanded you to rule over his creation. This is a position of authority, sharing God’s glory. You are his co-regent, his partner in administering his creation for the good of mankind. Your responsibility is to purely represent God. Doing so, you will care for his creation as you understand God’s gracious gift to you.
   We know the world is his as we see God in the glory above the heavens. The heavenly bodies reveal his power, and his purity. The orderly progression of the seasons in perfect timing and order reflects his cosmic design. God’s creation reveals himself to everyone: Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
   This is Jehovah’s world. He has come from heaven to share his glory with us. He was a consuming fire on Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 24:17)  He commanded light to shine in the tabernacle (Exodus 25) and in the temple. The light became a man: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
   The glory of Jesus’ resurrection commands the world to take notice that God is on his throne. He is Lord of heaven and earth. Through the gospel, even praise from children and infants will silence his enemies. The gospel is all consuming because the Spirit’s fire is in it.
   Yes, the world belongs to Jehovah. O Jehovah, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
   

Psalms 7:9 O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.
 
AMEN. May it be so, LORD. This is a prayer each of us should often speak. It also would be good for every church to pray this each Sabbath. How good it would be if God ended violent wickedness in our communities. What peace we would know if God will make all who love him secure in their faith. Persecution would end. The Christian would have favor among his neighbors. All who say, “I love Jesus.” would know blessed, secure relationships with all around them.
   David prayed this as King Saul pursued him. David honored Saul as God’s anointed. He would not act against Saul. So he put the threat in God’s hands. David believed the LORD would justly judge Saul because God searches minds and souls.
   That is our lesson. God will justly judge our enemies – his enemies. And be alert. These enemies are even in the church. Note carefully that Jesus speaks his judgment on the church at Thyatira: Revelation 2:21 I have given her (Jezebel, a false teacher) time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”
   God searches all hearts and minds. He knows who is righteous and who is evil. As Christians we must seek righteousness and stand truthfully against all evil. We must enforce God’s laws.
   Yet the ultimate judgment on evil is in God’s hands. “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39) Paul teaches us how to do this. Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the LORD. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (put him to shame) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
   These are hard words for us to follow. But this is God’s teaching. The Christian life is not the world’s way. Stand firm against the enemy’s attacks on your faith and your freedom to worship God. Pray for them and point them to God through righteous living. Know the final verdict for their lives – and yours – is in God’s justice. In Christ, God has justified you by faith. Rejoice that you are secure in him. 

Psalm 6:4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
 
WITH, “Turn O LORD.” David confesses he is behind God. He has neglected the LORD’s commands. God has turned his face from his anointed king. Psalms 34:16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. How can David hope to once more live in God’s blessing: “The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:25-26)
   David knows his hope for a renewed relationship with God is in God’s unfailing love. He believes God will hear his repentant prayer and will turn once again to a face-to-face relationship with him. His confidence is in the LORD’s love.
   How did David come to that faith? Again, we can refer you to 1 Samuel 16-1 Kings 2. David’s story is a very human story of victory and praise to God mixed with defeat and pleading for God’s deliverance. Several times God could have permanently turned his face from David and chosen another king to rule Israel as he did with King Saul.
   But there was a distinct difference in Saul’s and David’s relationships with God. The LORD saw David as man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). That means David’s purpose in life was to follow God’s law and to live in his will. Saul’s purpose was to follow his own desires. He put God on the outer edge of his life, scarcely paying any attention to the one who had chosen him to be king. God knew that David, unlike Saul, would rule Israel in the LORD’s will. Yes, David failed miserably with several immoral decisions. But David’s response to his sin was to grieve the sin, repent of the sin and believe in God’s forgiveness. In contrast, King Saul was oblivious to God’s leading. He regularly rejected God’s commands. He rarely had remorse or repentance in his heart. Saul lived behind God, with no interest in seeing God’s face.
   David, though, loved God. David was confident of a renewed, pure relationship with God because God is love. He will not abandon you when your heart yearns for his face to bless you and give you his peace.
   When you are saved in Jesus, this is the Holy Trinity’s relationship with you. Know that when you sin, you can trust God’s forgiveness. Your Father continually loves those who repent and seek his face.
   The Bible proves this. God called Israel to a faithful love inn Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. When most of the nation disobeyed this command, God’s love always kept a remnant in Israel who faithfully worshiped God only. In the Father’s love Jesus then came to affirm he so loved the world…that whoever believed in Jesus would be saved. (from John 3:16) The Spirit then poured forth God’s love onto the world at Pentecost. Acts 2:4 All of the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. And the gospel has been preached to a broken unbelieving world because God’s love never fails.  
   Do temptations and circumstance threaten to put you behind God? Are you believing you have lost a gracious, loving relationship with the Father? Then call on him with full anticipation his unfailing love will restore and renew your life into God’s will. 

Psalms 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
 
IN one way or another, we’ve all had to report to one who had authority over us. Perhaps it was reporting the results of an assignment to a teacher. You may have reported the progress of your work to a supervisor at your job. If you serve the Lord’s church, you have reported to others who work with you and to the church. An efficient, organized report honors others. You are prepared to speak what one must know, to listen to their response and to do as they may further direct you.
   This is David’s prayer pattern. He purposefully seeks solace in his distress. He can pray with confidence because prayer is his daily, orderly approach – his report – to God. In the morning you hear my voice is David thanking God he listens to him each day. Davod is confident the One who has authority over his life will help hm.
   He also describes a particular method to his prayer: In the morning I lay my requests before you. To lay requests in prayer was to follow the Levitical law of worship. This required the priests to carefully arrange the sacrifices on the altar. Leviticus 1:8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar.  It also symbolized properly arranging firewood for the sacrifice, placing the loaves of the Bread of  the Presence on the table in the tabernacle and setting a table before guests.
   Even more, the Bible reveals God works in a specific order. His details in the law for daily living and for worship is God’s loving revelation to tell us there is a specific way to worship him. Even in Jesus’ ministry, we can read and watch in our mind’s eye the particular process the gospels record Jesus’ revelations to the world. God has created a world of remarkable orderly detail. We honor him when we come before him with planned, specific prayers.
   Second, David waits in expectation for God’s answer. The King James Version says, In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. David confidently looks up with his heart and mind’s eye to await God’s answer.
   David understood prayer to be a purposeful conversation with God that produced results. He knew this because that had been his experience with God. His daily, planned “report” to the LORD impacted his life. He did not pray when he felt the need. David prayed because he needed prayer to know God.
   Purposeful prayer was Jesus’ pattern, too. As the Son, he reported daily to the Father. At times he heard, “You are my Son whom I love.” One time he heard only the Father’s silence when he pleaded in Gethsemane, “Take this cup from me.”  (Mark 14:36) When we listen with expectation, we will sometimes hear God tell us to go where we do not want to go.
   Prepare for your prayers. Know what you want to say to God. Listen with expectation. Be faithful to follow his approval, correction and encouragement. The LORD of Hosts is listening to you to direct you to a more faithful relationship with him.