Giving

As we read through the passage for today, I want us to focus on generosity, worship, and honoring God in giving. As God's people, we are supposed to live "set apart", meaning we don't live for the same values as the world. We act and live differently than those who don't follow God. The reason God gave the Israelites so many laws/commands was to show them how to live set apart from other nations and to be closer to God.  Take some time to think about how you are setting yourself apart from the world. It could be something simple, like choosing not to participate in gossip or something else that has the potential to negatively affect others.

Through generosity and celebration, we are able to express our gratitude for how God has blessed us, and by extension, bless others. In Deuteronomy 15:1-6, it talks about the Israelites forgiving debts between one another every 7 years, and in chapter 16, it goes on to talk about the importance of different feasts and celebrations. By having faith in God's ability to take care of us, we can help others out occasionally without worrying so much about getting paid back. And by celebrating in remembrance of what God has done in our lives, we are giving him the glory for getting us through hard times and allowing others to see his work in action. 

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 it talks about being generous to the poor. This is a particularly important part of our covenant with God because he continues to bless us and shows us mercy and grace every day. Extending that to others, especially those who need it most, is a big part of walking in obedience. There will always be those who are less fortunate, but God calls us to do what we can to mitigate chronic and widespread poverty. That might mean giving money to a homeless person, but it also might just be keeping snacks in your car to hand out, or giving the person on the corner a friendly smile and saying a prayer for them.

Most people could tell you that our world is a broken place, and it can be especially difficult when our leaders distort justice. Reading through Psalm 58, David is outraged at the injustice directed at him. When we are wronged, it can be easy to get angry and want to take action, tearing others down in order to protect ourselves. It's important to remember that God is our deliverer. David had many opportunities to kill king Saul while he was a fugitive, and yet he didn't, because he didn't have the right to kill the Lord's anointed, to take the throne through violence. He trusts God over his own actions.

While it might sometimes seem like we can only rely on ourselves, we can trust God to get us to the other side, like David does. David's wording in the psalm might seem violent and extreme at face value, but he has a lot of confidence in God's abilities to help him fight against the corruption he has witnessed. We have to have patience and faith that God will ultimately deliver justice. And to go a step further, the best way for us to combat being consumed by bitterness is to forgive those who we feel have wronged us, just as we have been forgiven by God for our own sin. 

Now let's take a moment to reflect:

First, reflect on whether or not the way you worship includes generosity and compassion, and what being obedient to those things looks like in your life. You might feel God weighing on your heart to give monetarily, but you might also feel him pulling you towards volunteering your time to help your neighbor, local community, and/or church family in some way. This might also extend to volunteering with Room In the Inn, Food Banks, or the many other organizations who support those in need.

Also take some time to reflect on how you practice rhythms of remembrance and celebration. It's important to recognize what God has done in each of our lives. You could try scheduling a daily prayer focused on gratitude, journaling focused on what you can thank God for, or emphasizing prayer when you have something to celebrate, not just when you are faced with something difficult. And remember to start small, don't feel like you have to wait on something big to give God the glory. Every blessing is worthy of his praise.

And lastly I want you to reflect on where in your life you need to entrust injustice to God rather than take vengeance yourself. In some situations, it might seem like there is no hope, but we have to remember that God is the ultimate judge and we can't rush his timing. Pray for peace in those situations, or perhaps try meditating or refocusing that energy on something more productive. Maybe instead of focusing on what has happened, you can focus on doing something nice for a friend of loved one.