Word Study for Today: The Book of Psalm. Chapter 59.
Devotion: JUDGE NOT.
Text: Genesis 38:11-30. | 2 Samuel 12:1-15. | Matthew 7:1-5.
Don’t be quick to picking on people, or pin pointing their failures, or criticizing their faults. It is not in your place o man, to assume the place of the chief justice over your brother’s matter. Be quiet! [That’s the paraphrase of Matthew 7:1].
>Luke 6:38 (KJVA)==>“…For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
A critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. Be careful. >Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier [Luke 6:37b MSG].
Sincerely, it’s easier to sit in judgement over someone else’s flaw than to see ourselves in error. Human nature by default thinks himself as good whilst others are not as good or even totally bad. There is this ‘holier than thou’ spirit that we go around with. The Miss or Mr Pious spirit; ‘am right, others are wrong’ notion. Bible says Judge Not!
>Matthew 5:3&4(MSG) says==> 3)It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. 4)Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part.
Bible calls whosoever assumes such role a hypocrite >(Matthew 5:5a).
How do you explain the brash judgement of David [the king of Israel] in the case of the rich man and the poor man as brought to him by prophet Nathan?
>II Samuel 12:1-6 (NKJV)==>1)“Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2)The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3)But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4)And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5)So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “ As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6)And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.””
Oh wow! God sure knows how to mirror our deeds back to us doesn’t He? See that narration. And can you imagine the judge of flesh; the judge-in-flesh? Quick to issuing verdict against the rich man, not knowing he was actually slamming the hammer over himself.
Holier than thou! Hypocritical spirit. That’s the general disposition of man against another man. If only we would think deep before we move or speak in judgement. If only we would do a quick self appraisal, if only we’d ‘sit where people are sitting or already sat’… then we won’t be in a haste to make a pronouncement or pitch a tent in our heart against others.
>Matthew 7:1-2a(NKJV)==>“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…
Nathan gave it straight up back to David > “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man…[2 Samuel 12:7KJV]
Judah, the righteous old man also in haste sat in judgement over Tamar his daughter in law. It was an operation no mercy, without knowing, his very own hammer was coming down on his head. >Genesis 38:24-26(NKJV)==>24)“And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 25)When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are —the signet and cord, and staff.” 26)So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.”
Bible says don’t merely have a form of godliness and deny the power behind same. >“having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” [II Timothy 3:5 NKJV]
>“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”[Matthew 7:12 NKJV].
Beloved, take heed as one who is wise and not foolish. >Matthew 7:25-27 (NKJV)==>26)“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27)and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””
BE WISE; JUDGE NOT!
Prayer Action:
**Worship God with choice songs that acknowledges Him.
**Pray in the tongue of heaven for 15minutes.
**Ask the Lord for mercy for every power [of judgement] you have abrogated to yourself, sitting in judgement over others. David asked for mercy, do same.
>II Samuel 12:13(NKJV)==>“So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”
**Pray for the grace to heed the commandment of God in >Matthew 7:1a(NKJV)==> Judge not…; Pray for grace to hold and be able to think through issues before ‘throwing the stone’, hence being strained thereby from ‘throwing stone’ at others.
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