Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good evening, dear ones.

We need to run to another meeting.

Have a read of the attachment. I picked it out of a newsletter I receive. Our world is in disrepair. It’s beyond man’s ability to fix.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Cultural diversity is here to stay in this world. Classifications of racial, ethnic, national, religious, and economic people groups abound. Consistent with the thesis that there are only two kingdoms in the universe, it follows that there would only be two classifications of people from the perspective of the Sovereign Lord—the SAINTS and the AIN’TS—those who love God and those who don’t—those possessing a HEART AFTER GOD and those who are too ignorant or proud (maybe both) to give that option any priority attention. And whether or not people wish to hang the word “Saint” in front of certain names in the annals of history, that formal title means nothing to the Sovereign Lord.

The benefits of being a Biblical saint (“one who is called out” to be devoted the the LORD) cannot be over-emphasized. A list of them could be made much longer than we have time for. But we can identify many just within this psalm. For example, He is Refuge and Deliverer (v. 1), Redeemer and source of Absolute Truth (v. 4), the object of Trust and Love (v. 6-7), and “My times are in your hands” (v. 15). His “saints” are cared for in His “unfailing love” (v. 16). His great “goodness” is available to those who fear Him (v. 19). And even if we are surrounded by threats and conspiracies of those trying to trap and enslave us, “In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men” (v. 20).

Let’s identify a couple other benefits from this passage. Consider the end of Psalm 29—“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace” (29:11). That special peace, of course, is not dependent on a peaceful environment. Consider the huge benefit of forgiveness—“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (32:1). What would we do without deliverance from the guilt of sin? We’d probably do what most unrepentent sinners do—justify it.

Without a doubt, it is far more therapeutic to take the high road of counting our benefits and blessings than to take the low road of counting our bummers. The former lifts up—the latter brings down. And it’s a lot more fun to be up than down.