February 17, 2011
I just love reading the Bible in three different versions at the same time. Mine (NCV), and Jane's NIV and KJV. Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has so many things written, marked, and underlined in her Bibles. I love being able to compare the three versions. Something often "jumps out" at me while reading one version that I totally missed in the others.
Psalm 11:1 NCV - "I trust in the LORD for protection."
Psalm 11:1 KJV - "In the LORD put I my trust."
Psalm 11:1 NIV - "In the LORD I take refuge."
People were telling David he should be afraid and that he should run and hide. His response was: Why are you telling me this? The LORD is who I trust! He sees what people do! He's keeping His eyes on them. The LORD tests those who do right but he "hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others." KJV - "his soul hateth." NIV - "but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates."
Hates—what a strong word! The soul of God hates those who are wicked. Wow. When you understand (even a little) of who God is, those words are something you never want said about you. When you don't understand who God is, then you think those words don't apply to you. Psalm 12:4 - They say, "Our tongues will help us win. We can say what we wish; no one is our master (NCV); Who is lord over us? (KJV); Who is our master? (NIV)" But, God is watching, God does punish, and "the LORD does what is right and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face."
Psalm 12:7 - O LORD, you will (with a box drawn around "you will") keep us safe. (As written in Jane's NIV.)
From Life Lesson: God will punish evil at the proper time. Until then, He will protect us. Your challenge is to wait; to trust that God will one day balance the scales.
Addendum: 2/4/15 ~ Psalm 11:6–7 - "He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A whirlwind is what they will get. The LORD does what is right, and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face." Psalm 140:9–13 - "Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them. Let burning coals fall on them. Throw them into the fire or into pits from which they cannot escape. Don't let liars settle in the land. Let evil quickly hunt down cruel people. I KNOW the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court. Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence." (NCV)
While re-reading this post a few days ago, the word justice jumped out at me and I started thinking about it more and more. Justice. I'm not sure why it didn't resonate with me before, but for some reason, this time it has captured my thoughts. I've now added "justice" as a label.
I decided to look up the definition of justice. This is from my Thorndike Barnhart Dictionary published in 1957:
Justice - 1. just conduct; fair dealings: have a sense of justice. 2. a being just; fairness; rightness; correctness: uphold the justice of our cause. 3. rightfulness; lawfulness; well-founded reason: complain with justice. 4. just treatment; deserved reward or punishment. 5. exercise of power and authority to maintain what is just and right. 6. administration of law; trial and judgment by process of law: a court of justice. 7. judge 8. justice of the peace. 9. bring a person to justice, do what is necessary in order that a person shall be legally punished for his crime or crimes. 10. do justice to, a. treat fairly, b. show proper appreciation for. 11. do oneself justice, do as well as one really can do.
Just - 1. right; fair. 2. righteous. 3. deserved; merited; a just reward 4. having good grounds; well-founded; just anger. 5. lawful; a just claim. 6. in accordance with standards or requirements; proper; just proportions. 7. true; correct.
God is a fair, honest, just, upright, all-knowing God of justice. He has to be. It is who HE is! He cannot be false to who HE is. What a calm reassurance. God is in control. He is just. He is fair. He is honest. He is upright. He is all-knowing. He is a God of justice. Justice WILL happen. We can have complete confidence in Him. When justice happens and how justice happens is out of our hands; it is HIS prerogative. What freedom to know that our only responsibility is—obedience.
"Your challenge is to wait; to trust that God will one day balance the scales." Balance the scales. An interesting analogy using the legal systems visual symbol of justice. One day. One day the lawsuit will be over and "the storm" will end.
Next Entry: Psalm 11:1 – 13:6 (Continued)
I just love reading the Bible in three different versions at the same time. Mine (NCV), and Jane's NIV and KJV. Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has so many things written, marked, and underlined in her Bibles. I love being able to compare the three versions. Something often "jumps out" at me while reading one version that I totally missed in the others.
Psalm 11:1 NCV - "I trust in the LORD for protection."
Psalm 11:1 KJV - "In the LORD put I my trust."
Psalm 11:1 NIV - "In the LORD I take refuge."
People were telling David he should be afraid and that he should run and hide. His response was: Why are you telling me this? The LORD is who I trust! He sees what people do! He's keeping His eyes on them. The LORD tests those who do right but he "hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others." KJV - "his soul hateth." NIV - "but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates."
Hates—what a strong word! The soul of God hates those who are wicked. Wow. When you understand (even a little) of who God is, those words are something you never want said about you. When you don't understand who God is, then you think those words don't apply to you. Psalm 12:4 - They say, "Our tongues will help us win. We can say what we wish; no one is our master (NCV); Who is lord over us? (KJV); Who is our master? (NIV)" But, God is watching, God does punish, and "the LORD does what is right and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face."
Psalm 12:7 - O LORD, you will (with a box drawn around "you will") keep us safe. (As written in Jane's NIV.)
From Life Lesson: God will punish evil at the proper time. Until then, He will protect us. Your challenge is to wait; to trust that God will one day balance the scales.
Addendum: 2/4/15 ~ Psalm 11:6–7 - "He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A whirlwind is what they will get. The LORD does what is right, and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face." Psalm 140:9–13 - "Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them. Let burning coals fall on them. Throw them into the fire or into pits from which they cannot escape. Don't let liars settle in the land. Let evil quickly hunt down cruel people. I KNOW the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court. Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence." (NCV)
While re-reading this post a few days ago, the word justice jumped out at me and I started thinking about it more and more. Justice. I'm not sure why it didn't resonate with me before, but for some reason, this time it has captured my thoughts. I've now added "justice" as a label.
I decided to look up the definition of justice. This is from my Thorndike Barnhart Dictionary published in 1957:
Justice - 1. just conduct; fair dealings: have a sense of justice. 2. a being just; fairness; rightness; correctness: uphold the justice of our cause. 3. rightfulness; lawfulness; well-founded reason: complain with justice. 4. just treatment; deserved reward or punishment. 5. exercise of power and authority to maintain what is just and right. 6. administration of law; trial and judgment by process of law: a court of justice. 7. judge 8. justice of the peace. 9. bring a person to justice, do what is necessary in order that a person shall be legally punished for his crime or crimes. 10. do justice to, a. treat fairly, b. show proper appreciation for. 11. do oneself justice, do as well as one really can do.
Just - 1. right; fair. 2. righteous. 3. deserved; merited; a just reward 4. having good grounds; well-founded; just anger. 5. lawful; a just claim. 6. in accordance with standards or requirements; proper; just proportions. 7. true; correct.
God is a fair, honest, just, upright, all-knowing God of justice. He has to be. It is who HE is! He cannot be false to who HE is. What a calm reassurance. God is in control. He is just. He is fair. He is honest. He is upright. He is all-knowing. He is a God of justice. Justice WILL happen. We can have complete confidence in Him. When justice happens and how justice happens is out of our hands; it is HIS prerogative. What freedom to know that our only responsibility is—obedience.
"Your challenge is to wait; to trust that God will one day balance the scales." Balance the scales. An interesting analogy using the legal systems visual symbol of justice. One day. One day the lawsuit will be over and "the storm" will end.
Next Entry: Psalm 11:1 – 13:6 (Continued)
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