“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us, none can compare to You, if I would proclaim and declare of them, they are more than could be numbered.”

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Thank you, Lord!

“When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples, the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the Lord will prevail.”

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1

Do you ever wonder why people who do not fear God seem to have many friends and are prosperous? It may seem like they are never in trouble, want, or need. But, do not let this cause you to worry, do not question God as to why it is this way. Keep the faith, continue to fear God, and he promised, that, if you do not lose heart, you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. If God so causes good on those who do not fear him, would he not more cause good on those who fear him? Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart; he will give you the desires of your heart.

“When a man presents a peace offering to the Lord from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable.” Too many of us make vows to the Lord that we do not keep or try to cheat him of what was promised or try give him the trappings of our possessions. But, know that all that we have received, all that we claim as our possessions are gifts from God, and we are reminded in Deuteronomy chapter twenty three and verse 21, “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.”

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I do not delight in burnt offerings and sin offerings.” I the Lord take pleasure in those who fear me, in those who hope in my steadfast love. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” Matthew 9:13

Will God have reason to reject the gifts we bring? My brothers and sisters in Christ, Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a tiller of the soil, but, “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.” How acceptable are the gifts you and I bring before God? Are we giving God our first fruits or just some of what he has so freely given to us?

Justice belongs to the Lord. “The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this, they fret over doers of evil and envy those who do wrong. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.” But understand this, “Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.”

“Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” My brothers and sisters in Christ, there is no sin offering that will ever be acceptable before God. Only by his grace we are redeemed.