From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Feb 16, 2022 at 6:15 AM

Subject: 2-16-22 THOUGHTS

2-16-22   THOUGHTS

The Psalmist speaks of a time when the godly and faithful people seem to be disappearing?  Surely help is needed!  Verse 6 of chapter 12 rings through the ages!  “  The words of the LORD are pure words...”    In chapter 13, there is a day by day sadness in the condition that has been described.  The solution is for God to ENLIGHTEN THE EYES of his people.  The psalmist holds to his confidence as he says he will  “sing to the Lord, BECAUSE HE HAS DEALT BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME.”  This is a hurting man witnessing declining righteousness, who remembers the Goodness of God in his life!  No wonder he is ready to sing!   Our souls will return to their rest, we have been rescued, we will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Ps 12:1-8    Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.  2  They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak. 3  May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things; 4  Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"  5  "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs." 6  The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. 7  You, O LORD, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever. 8  The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Ps:13:1-6   How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4  And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. 5  But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6  I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Ps 116:1-9    I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. 2  Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. 3  The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.
4  Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!" 5  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. 6  The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7  Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8  For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. 9  I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.

My Prayer:
Lord, we see so much evil on all sides, it does seem like the righteous are disappearing.  May we ever focus our minds on You and Your might and eternal power, and remember that You, O God,  have promised, and that all your promises are confirmed in Christ Jesus!  Teach us to be still, and know that you are God!  We thank you for being the God of our hope.  
In the name of our Lord       Amen