Daily Lesson for February 25, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 50 verses 16 through 21:

16 But to the wicked God says: *

"Why do you recite my statutes,

and take my covenant upon your lips;

17 Since you refuse discipline, *

and toss my words behind your back?

18 When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *

and you cast in your lot with adulterers.

19 You have loosed your lips for evil, *

and harnessed your tongue to a lie.

20 You are always speaking evil of your brother *

and slandering your own mother's son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept still, *

and you thought that I am like you."

Of all the sad things a people might do, this last one in verse 21 may be the saddest.

Psalm 50 is written to a people who, in the words of Isaiah "worship God with their mouths, but their hearts are far away." Indeed, yet they seem to think their hearts are all in it. They think their hearts are in one accord with God. As the Psalmist says, they think God is like them.

And what are they like? They turn blind eyes to crookedness. They excuse all manner of infidelities. They accept lies and even being lied to as a matter of course. And they accept slander and defamation and smear campaigns as smart, realpolitik.

And, worst of all, they think God condones it all! They think God wills it all!

It's the Lenten season -- a time for self-reflection. And I'd say Psalm 50 is a pretty good mirror.

Lord, have mercy . . .

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.