It Is Folly To Renounce Yahweh

Job 2:7-10 reads,

2:7So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head. 2:8He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes. 2:9Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

2:10But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

In all this Job didn’t sin with his lips.

Those Who Serve Yahweh Only In Good Times Do Not Really Serve Yahweh

Again, learning from Job, we should not practice the folly of Job's wife, the folly of renouncing Yahweh once evil befalls us. For those who serve Yahweh only because he gives them good do not really serve Yahweh in their hearts. For their hearts are in the good that Yahweh provides, but not in Yahweh, irrespective of any good or bad that may come from Yahweh! Our hearts should be in Yahweh, irrespective of anything that Yahweh may provide us!

Why We Should Serve Yahweh Even In Bad Times

Why should our hearts be in Yahweh irrespective of any good or evil that Yahweh may provide us?

Our existence depends on Yahweh. For, without Yahweh willing that we exist, we cannot continue to exist even for one more moment! In other words, the very life that we have comes from Yahweh, and anything good we may have while we live comes from Yahweh. For Yahweh is the provider of all good things! In other words, in appreciation of our existence our hearts should be in Yahweh, and we should serve him in either good times or in bad times.

Those Who Sin Go To Sheol

Job 24:19 reads,

24:19Drought and heat consume the snow waters;
So does Sheol those who have sinned.

Job understood that sinners go to Sheol, wherein they are consumed. How are they consumed in Sheol?

It Is Sin To Curse To Death Those Who Hate You

Job 31:29-30 reads,

31:29"If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted up myself when evil found him;

31:30(Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking his life with a curse
);

Learning from Job we should note that it is sin to curse our enemies! We should bless them, and should not curse them. In other words, we should love our enemies from our hearts, and should not hate them!

Love All Human Beings

Seeing that we should not hate our enemies, but should love them, it appears that we should love all human beings, hating no one!

Freely Confess Your Sins That Yahweh May Forgive You

Job 33:27-30 reads,

33:27He sings before men, and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
And it didn’t profit me.

33:28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
My life shall see the light.’

33:29"Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, yes three times, with a man,

33:30To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Learning from Elihu, we should freely confess our sins that Yahweh may forgive us our sins. We should also give glory to Yahweh in that he redeems us from Sheol when he forgives us our sins, facilitating our seeing the light, both Father Yahweh and His Son Yah'shuah.

Do Not Walk In The Counsel Of The Wicked

Psalm 1 reads,

1:1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

1:2But his delight is in the law of Yahweh;
On his law he meditates day and night.

1:3He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.

1:4The wicked are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

1:5Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

1:6For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Pray To Yahweh To Keep You From Sinning Presumptuously

Psalm 19:13 reads,

19:13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.
Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I will be upright,
I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

Pray To Yahweh To Bless You According To His Lovingkindness

Psalm 25:4-22 reads,

25:4Show me your ways, Yahweh.
Teach me your paths.

25:5Guide me in your truth, and teach me,
For you are the God of my salvation,
I wait for you all day long.

25:6Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your lovingkindness,
For they are from old times.

25:7Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.
Remember me according to your lovingkindness,
For your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.

25:8Good and upright is Yahweh,
Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

25:9He will guide the humble in justice.
He will teach the humble his way.

25:10All the paths of Yahweh are lovingkindness and truth
To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Pray To Yahweh For Forgive You For His Own Name's Sake

25:11For your name’s sake, Yahweh,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

25:12What man is he who fears Yahweh?
He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

25:13His soul shall dwell at ease.
His seed shall inherit the land.

25:14The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him.
He will show them his covenant.

25:15My eyes are ever on Yahweh,
For he will pluck my feet out of the net.

25:16Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.

25:17The troubles of my heart are enlarged.
Oh bring me out of my distresses.

25:18Consider my affliction and my travail.
Forgive all my sins.

25:19Consider my enemies, for they are many.
They hate me with cruel hatred.

25:20Oh keep my soul, and deliver me.
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

25:21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for you.

25:22Redeem Israel, God,
Out all of his troubles.

Avoid The Assembly Of Evil Doers

Psalm 26 reads,

By David.

26:1Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity.
I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.

26:2Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me.
Try my heart and my mind.

26:3For your lovingkindness is before my eyes.
I have walked in your truth.

26:4I have not sat with deceitful men,
Neither will I go in with hypocrites.

26:5I hate the assembly of evil-doers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

26:6I will wash my hands in innocence,
So I will go about your altar, Yahweh;
26:7That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard,
And tell of all your wondrous works.

26:8Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house,
The place where your glory dwells.

Avoid Bloodthirsty, Wicked And Bribing People

26:9Don’t gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men;
26:10In whose hands is wickedness,
Their right hand is full of bribes.

26:11But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.
Redeem me, and be merciful to me.

26:12My foot stands in an even place.
In the congregations will I bless Yahweh.

Blessed Are Those Whose Sins Are Forgiven

Psalm 32:1-7 reads,

By David. A contemplative psalm.

32:1Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.

32:2Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity,
In whose spirit there is no deceit.

Confess Your Transgressions To Yahweh That He May Forgive You Of Your Sin

32:3When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

32:4For day and night your hand was heavy on me.
My strength was sapped in the heat of summer.

Selah.

32:5I acknowledged my sin to you.
I didn’t hide my iniquity.

I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh,
And you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Selah.

Pray To Yahweh While He Can Still Be Found

32:6For this, let everyone that is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found.
Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.

32:7You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble.
You will surround me with songs of deliverance.

Sin Leads To Bad Health

Psalm 38 reads,

A Psalm by David, for a memorial.

38:1Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath,
Neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

38:2For your arrows have pierced me,
Your hand presses hard on me.

38:3There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation,
Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

38:4For my iniquities have gone over my head.
As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

38:5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt,
Because of my foolishness.

38:6I am pained and bowed down greatly.
I go mourning all day long.

38:7For my loins are filled with burning.
There is no soundness in my flesh.

38:8I am faint and severely bruised.
I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

38:9Lord, all my desire is before you.
My groaning is not hidden from you.

38:10My heart throbs. My strength fails me.
As for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

38:11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.
My kinsmen stand afar off.

38:12They also who seek after my life lay snares.
Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
And meditate deceits all day long.

38:13But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear.
I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

38:14Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear,
In whose mouth are no reproofs.

Declare Your Iniquity And Be Sorry For Your Sin

38:15For in you, Yahweh, do I hope.
You will answer, Lord my God.

38:16For I said, "Don’t let them gloat over me,
Or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."

38:17For I am ready to fall.
My pain is continually before me.

38:18For I will declare my iniquity.
I will be sorry for my sin.

38:19But my enemies are vigorous and many.
Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

38:20They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me,
Because I follow what is good.

38:21Don’t forsake me, Yahweh.
My God, don’t be far from me.

38:22Hurry to help me,
Lord, my salvation.

Strive To Avoid Sinning With Your Tongue

Psalm 39:1-5 reads,

39:1I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue.
I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."

39:2I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good.
My sorrow was stirred.

39:3My heart was hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned:

I spoke with my tongue:
39:4"Yahweh, make me to know my end,
What is the measure of my days.
Let me know how frail I am.

39:5Behold, you have made my days handbreadths.
My lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely every man stands as a breath."

Make Yahweh Your Trust And Do Not Respect The Proud

Psalm 40 reads,

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

40:1I waited patiently for Yahweh.
He turned to me, and heard my cry.

40:2He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay.
He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

40:3He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God.
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

40:4Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust,
And doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

40:5Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done,
And your thoughts which are toward us.

They can’t be set in order to you;
If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Do Yahweh's Will Rather Than Offer Physical Sacrifices To Him

40:6Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire.

My ears have you opened:
Burnt offering and sin offering have you not required.

40:7Then I said, "Behold, I have come.
It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

40:8I delight to do your will, my God.
Yes, your law is within my heart."

Proclaim The Glad News Of Righteousness In The Great Assembly

40:9I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly.
Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.

40:10I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart.
I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation.
I have not concealed your lovingkindness and your truth from the great assembly.

40:11Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh.
Let your lovingkindness and your truth continually preserve me.

Pray To Yahweh To Deliver You From Sin

40:12For innumerable evils have surrounded me.
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up.

They are more than the hairs of my head.
My heart has failed me.

40:13Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me.
Hurry to help me, Yahweh.

40:14Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it.
Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

40:15Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, "Aha! Aha!"

40:16Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.
Let such as love your salvation say continually, "Let Yahweh be exalted!"

40:17But I am poor and needy;
May the Lord think about me.

You are my help and my deliverer.
Don’t delay, my God.

Consider The Poor

Psalm 41 reads,

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

41:1Blessed is he who considers the poor:
Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.

41:2Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive,
He shall be blessed on the earth,
And he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.

41:3Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed,
And restore him from his bed of illness.

Pray To Yahweh To Heal You When You Are Sick

41:4I said, "Yahweh, have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

41:5My enemies speak evil against me:
"When will he die, and his name perish?"

41:6If he come to see me, he speaks falsehood.
His heart gathers iniquity to itself.
When he goes abroad, he tells it.

41:7All who hate me whisper together against me.
They imagine the worst for me.

41:8"An evil disease," they say, "has afflicted him.
Now that he lies he shall rise up no more."

41:9Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
Who ate bread with me,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

41:10But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them.

41:11By this I know that you delight in me,
Because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me.

41:12As for me, you uphold me in my integrity,
And set me in your presence forever.

41:13Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,
From everlasting and to everlasting!

Amen and amen.

Pray To Yahweh To Have Mercy On You According To His Lovingkindness

Psalm 51 reads,

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51:1Have mercy on me, God, according to your lovingkindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Pray To Yahweh To Cleanse You From Sin

51:2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.

51:3For I know my transgressions.
My sin is constantly before me.

Confess Your Sin Before Yahweh

51:4Against you, and you only, have I sinned,
And done that which is evil in your sight;

That you may be proved right when you speak,
And justified when you judge.

51:5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity.
In sin did my mother conceive me.

Pray To Yahweh To Teach You Wisdom

51:6Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

51:8Let me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Why You Should Pray To Yahweh To Forgive You And Create In You A Clean Heart

51:9Hide your face from my sins,
And blot out all of my iniquities.

51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.

51:11Don’t throw me from your presence,
And don’t take your holy Spirit from me.

51:12Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit.

51:13Then I will teach transgressors your ways.
Sinners shall be converted to you.

51:14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.
My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

51:15Lord, open my lips.
My mouth shall declare your praise.

The Sacrifices That Yahweh Takes Pleasure In

51:16For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

51:18Do well in your good pleasure to Zion.
Build the walls of Jerusalem.

51:19Then will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
In burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings.

Then they will offer bulls on your altar.


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© 1999, Isaac Aluochier, All rights reserved. Published by Christ the Lamp, a division of Servants of Yahweh, P O Box 44848, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. E-mail: christthelamp@christthelamp.org. Permission is hereby GRANTED to reproduce this and other publications in the Christ the Lamp web site, http://www.christthelamp.org, unless otherwise stated.