Trivia:
The youngest president in U. S. history was Theodore Roosevelt who at 42 succeeded to the office of president William McKinley after his assssination.
Do you know which bird sings a wide variety of songs & even mimics other species? Canary; Lyrebird; Northern Mockingbird; Nightingale? Make your guess.
Challenge:
Psalm 94:8-14 "Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? 9 Is He deaf--the one who made your ears? Is He blind--the one who formed your eyes? 10 He punishes the nations--won't He also punish you? He knows everything--doesn't He also know what you are doing? 11 The Lord knows people's thoughts; He knows (when) they are worthless! 12 Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. 13 You give the relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked. 14 The Lord will not reject His people; He will not abandon His special possession."
In these next few verses the writer responds to yesterdays retort of those who fail to listen to God. They think He not only isn't seeing, but that He also doesn't care when they (the proud, arrogant, wicked) bring harm, and even death on those who appear to be uncared for.
Verse 8 responds to these earlier thoughts, "Think again" and then in verse 9 he asks the questions, Do you think the one who made your ears & eyes to see and hear, is deaf & blind?
Then in verse 10 He reminds these who are responsible for bringing harm to the innocent; that if He (God) is able to punish entire nations, don't you think He will also be capable of punishing you.
Next in verse 11 the Psalmist reminds the wicked one, "The Lord knows people's thoughts." He isn't just aware of the deeds of others but He is aware of their very thoughts and aspirations.
In verse 12 the Lord recounts the motivation behind His punishment, It ultimately brings joy and wisdom to the life of those who He disciplines. Not only does this discipline bring joy, but it also brings relief to all who are living in these times where the wicked are carrying out evil practices, and even causes the capture of these wicked ones.
Finally in Verse 14 we are assured that our eternal God will not only not reject His children, but He will also not ever forget them, for they are counted as dear and important as each thought and rememberance that they have brought to Him.
SO GO WITH GOD my dear one for you are always in His thoughts, in His care, and even in His memory. He will never reject or abandon you, for you are His special one for all of time.
Mockingbird