06/22/2026
Psalm 53:2 From heaven God looks down to see if anyone is wise enough to search for him. (Contemporary English Version)
We are continuing in our “food study” stopping where food is referenced and studying the story/scriptures surrounding it. In our last study, we considered that sometimes people do evil because they do not believe in God – so why not? This Psalm seems to support that thought. In verse 1, the psalmist, David, says that it is a fool who thinks there is no God. Verse 2 says God looks down to find anyone who is wise enough to search for Him. When we stop and think of all the amazing things God has done in the history of the universe, mankind, and us as individuals, sometimes we wonder how some still do not believe. There is a philosophy that says a person can be “doomed” to keep committing the same mistakes over and over again. I don’t believe that we must we be stuck in negative cycles, and I do not believe God does either. God gives us a choice. When we read the Old Testament from the beginning, we can see a pattern of belief – no belief – evil and fear - belief – no belief – evil and fear -in the history of humankind from Adam and Eve thru the present. But don’t overlook the other pattern…
God looks down – God calls to us – we respond – God rescues us - over and over again. This is the often overlooked pattern in the history of humankind – perhaps even in our families. He saw and called Noah, Noah responded, God rescued him from the flood as well as his family who also responded and believed. God saw and called Moses, Moses responded, God rescued Moses and the people from slavery when they also responded and believed God. God saw and called Abraham, Abraham responded, God rescued him and gave him land and many descendants when it looked like he would have none. I like this pattern so much better. Still, it is not quite what God had in mind for us. From the beginning, He desired that we would always walk in “the garden” with Him, knowing Him, meeting Him, much like a grandfather loves seeing His children and grandchildren. He loves to share His wisdom and His ways with us. The lifestyle He desires for us is know God – love God – learn and follow His ways – and disciple others. This is a life we can choose today even if we currently find ourselves in a different one. We can start searching for Him now – first in the New Testament through the recorded acts and words of His Son, Jesus. Second, by receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives us when we respond to His offer of salvation. We can choose to love Him and learn His ways and then disciple others, so they can love and learn His ways also. Saul was a man who was in the negative cycle of doing evil. He believed in God but didn’t really understand the love and ways of God. God saw him and called him, Saul responded, God rescued him and made a way for him to understand more of God’s ways – His true ways of love and mercy. This rescued man became Paul. Paul chose to find Jesus, receive Him and the Holy Spirit, and discipled others. Are you in a negative cycle now? Which lifestyle will you choose for the rest of your life? For your family?
Father, we come humbly before You seeking Your wisdom and love in our lives. We confess we have had wrong and negative patterns in our lives that You never desired for us to have. We want to find our way back to You. We know that the way back is through Jesus. We thank You now for this amazing gift of love and salvation in Your son, Jesus. We invite Him now into our lives and commit the rest of our lives to You. We respond to His call. We ask that You fill us with Your divine Holy Spirit to teach us Your ways and to guide and lead us the rest of our lives. We pray for a deeper understanding of Your ways that we might go into all the world and make disciples for You. We want to see others delivered from those negative cycles that we have come to so easily accept. You are the only one that can turn things around, take us out of those negative cycles and put us on the path of peace, love, and compassion. Thank You for making a way for us. We pray these things now in the Holy Name of Jesus. A’ho, Amen, Blessings!