Daily Lesson for April 17, 2020

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 73 verses 1 through 3:


Truly God is good to the upright,
    to those who are pure in heart.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
    my steps had nearly slipped.
3
For I was envious of the arrogant;
    I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Yesterday we saw how David’s anger could get the best of him. Tired, frustrated, and embittered at King Saul’s recklessness, he failed to see how his own behavior could become like the King’s.

Today we have a prayer with deep insight into one’s own frustrations, and motivations. It recognizes jealousy, and envy, and their destructive ways upon the heart.

It is a Psalm of Asaph, not David.

Quakers have a saying, “If in fighting the beast you become a beast, then the beast has won.” There is much to against now. The arrogant and the wicked are still among us. But if fighting them we become like them then arrogance and wickedness has won.

Now is the time for introspection, for checking our own hearts, and for purification. We cannot let the Beast win — either in the world, or in ourselves.

Note: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow’s lesson comes from 1 Samuel 28-31 and Psalm 18.