Living in the Spirit

August 4, 2023

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
   and his compassion is over all that he has made.

Scripture Reading:

The Lord upholds all who are falling,
   and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
   satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
   he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
   and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

The word quoted above as “wicked” is identified in Strong’s Concordance as an adjective, not a noun. What is the difference? In my first reading, I read this scripture as wicked being a person, a noun. As an adjective, it describes a person’s characteristics changing the phrase’s meaning and giving hope to the hopeless who feel they are beyond redemption. Those who turn to God and ask for forgiveness and guidance in changing can and will be cleansed and made whole.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your eternal presence and willingness to rid us of all wickedness when we are willing to let it go. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7563.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.