Below are the chapters to read this week if you’re following along in my Bible in a year schedule, divided into morning and evening readings. Follow along any way you want: just do the evening reading, flip the morning and evening, read it all. Whatever works for you and your schedule!
Monday, February 5 Morning: Psalm 36, 2 Samuel 15 Evening: Genesis 36
Tuesday, February 6 Morning: Psalm 37, 2 Samuel 16 Evening: Genesis 37
Wednesday, February 7 Morning: Psalm 38, 2 Samuel 17 Evening: Genesis 38
Thursday, February 8 Morning: Psalm 39, 2 Samuel 18 Evening: Genesis 39
Friday, February 9 Morning: Psalm 40, 2 Samuel 19 Evening: Genesis 40
Saturday, February 10 Morning: Psalm 41, 2 Samuel 20-21 Evening: Genesis 41
Sunday, February 11 Morning: Psalm 42, 2 Samuel 22-23 Evening: Genesis 42
Journalism, particularly newspaper journalism, is sometimes referred to as “the first rough draft of history.” This phrase is usually attributed to Philip Graham, former publisher of the Washington Post. It’s a useful phrase because it is flattering to journalists to know that their work is important and meaningful, but also a reminder that their work is inherently imperfect and in need of later revision. Particularly under deadline pressure, it is impossible to know all the relevant facts and potential angles of any story. Unavoidable and expedient choices and compromises must be made. The saying came to mind when I recently read Psalm 33:10-11, which says:
“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
As I’ve written before, total objectivity is “theoretically impossible for anyone but God Himself.” The best any news reporting can do is cover a tiny piece of what happens in the world, screening it using whatever judgment they decide to use, and applying imperfect ethical standards. As I’ve also written, “The dots of the pointillistic narrative are never the full picture and sometimes aren’t the right color.” Thus is the “counsel of the nations” – incomplete by necessity, biased by choice, and morally imperfect by nature.
In contrast, what God says is true is always true, unlike the 24/7 news cycle where truth is constantly under revision. The “counsel of the LORD” contains everything we need to know about His plans, is designed by His choice to benefit those He loves, and morally perfect because His nature is holy. If better counsel existed, He would know about it. His counsel reliably informs us about how He wants us to view the events of the world, rather than the other way around. His plans frustrate and overcome the “plans of the peoples”, rather than the other way around.
When Jesus said on the cross that “it is finished,”[1] His payment for our sins was complete. He lived a perfect life in our place, so that He could be a perfect sacrifice and atone for all the sins of His people in all times and all places. This was not a rough first draft, but the flawless consummation of God’s plan for salvation “to all generations.” Jesus made no flawed choices for the sake of expedience, and His work can be trusted at all times. Whatever you see in the news today, the Good News of the kingdom of heaven is more important, more trustworthy, and provides comfort for your soul.
His Story is the first draft, but it is also the only draft because none other is needed. His Story needs no revision.
Therefore: “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” – Psalm 33:20-22
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the young church in first-century Philippi, he wrote: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”[1]
When Paul wrote this, the gospels of Mark and John probably weren’t written yet, and the other two may not have been broadly available. New Christians couldn’t easily read about Christ, so Paul recommends learning about Him through His other followers. What can people learn about Christ from us on our blogs, social media, and elsewhere?
“Out of a hundred people, one will read the Bible, and the other ninety-nine will read the Christian.” – Dwight L. Moody
Psalm 90 is the only one out of 150 that was written by Moses. Psalm 90 is also the first in book 4 of the Psalms, which some say carries many of the themes and ideas from the 4th book of the Pentateuch, the book of Numbers. That book tells of the consequences of Israel’s disobedience and grumbling on their journey to the Promised Land. The nation of Israel spent 40 years wandering, seemingly aimlessly, in the wilderness and only Joshua and Caleb from the prior generation actually entered the Promised Land.
As noted in a recent post, the Psalm begins by saying we are only home when we are with God, but the Psalm ends with this petition to God for us:
“Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
It may seem easy, or even natural, to just go with the flow of our surrounding cultures while in this world, but that would really be like wandering in the wilderness instead of getting God’s promised blessing. Instead, do we seek that God’s “work be shown to your servants,” and that He “establish the work of our hands upon us”? Do we seek “the favor of the Lord,” and experience His “glorious power”? This is what Moses asks for in this prayer, that we find our purpose in Him by doing His work. We all have “worldly” responsibilities we need to take care of in this world, but none of them are the ultimate goal.
In other words, the best way to spend our short lives here is to do work that matters in eternity, which God has laid out for us to do:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” – Moses, in Psalm 90:12
King David was known as a man who sought God’s will in all things, even though he often failed. The Psalms record many of his prayers for God to guide him and make him a good leader. Psalm 26 is one of these prayers, and verses 8-10 include good objectives for any leader:
“O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.”
Sometimes we may not know how to pray “for kings and all who are in high positions,”[1] as Paul suggests, but in this cry to God, David gives us at least 3 things to pray about. He lists qualities he wanted to pursue, and some he wanted to avoid, but which are good for any leader. Therefore, on the model of Psalm 26, we can pray for the leaders of our countries and communities today.
We can pray for political leaders who:
worship God (who “love the habitation of your house”)
do not seek violence and vengeance (who are not “bloodthirsty men”), and
are not corrupted by money (whose hands are not “full of bribes”)
