HARMLESS THOUGHTS

Psalm 140 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. [1] Deliver me, O LORD, from that evil person; preserve me from their violent thoughts, [2] preserve me from the one who planned evil things in their heart and stirred up war with me continually. [3] They made their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips was the venom of asps.  Selah. [4] Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of that wicked one; preserve me from violent thoughts, that would love nothing better than to see me trip. [5] That arrogant one would have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they would have spread a net; beside the way they wished to set snares for me.  Selah. [6] I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! [7] O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. [8] Grant not, O LORD, the desires of that wicked one; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!  Selah. [9] As for the head of tha...

Amos 3:6 b (ESV) "... Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?"

 Grant, Almighty God, that as you constantly remind us in your word, and have taught us by so many examples, that there is nothing permanent in this world, but that the things which seem the firmest tend to ruin, and instantly fall and of themselves vanish away, when by your breath you shake your strength in which men trust -- O grant that we, being really subdued and humbled, may not rely on earthly things, but raise up our hearts and our thoughts to heaven, and there fix the anchor of our hope; and may all our thoughts abide there until at length, when you have led us through our course on earth, we shall be gathered into that celestial kingdom which has been obtained for us by the blood of your only begotten Son. Amen.  John Calvin (Quoted in Be Thou My Vision )

Matthew 7:6 (ESV) Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.   I find it to be of great interest that this passage in Matthew, this passage, which is near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, is immediately preceded by the passage that says, "Judge not..." (Mt. 7:1-5). How can one "Not judge" and then be discerning enough to identify "dogs" and "pigs" in order to not present those "holy pearls" to them?  Is there not a measure of, what one could call "judging"... Is Jesus not referring to people as the "dogs" and the "pigs"?  And then to refrain from presenting words, words that could be called "pearls" or "what is holy", to refrain from presenting these words to people we've deemed to be, well, doglike or piggish in the way they would receive these words: does this not require a level of judgment? ...

  Psalm 109 -- To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Appoint a wicked man against them; let an accuser stand at their right hand. When they are tried, let them come forth guilty; let their prayer be counted as sin! May their days be few; may another take their office! May their children be fatherless and motherless and their spouse a widow or widower! May their children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! May the creditor seize all that they have; may strangers plunder the fruits of their toil! Let there be none to extend kindness to them, nor any to pity their orphaned children! May their posterity be cut off; ma...