Daily Bible Verse - 10/14/2007 - Psalm 9:1

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

Psalm 9:1

Commentary
The sweet singer of Israel (David) is ecstatic over all God's marvelous works. Here he is not thinking so much of His deeds in creation or redemption but of His spectacular feats in crushing the nation's foes. David gives all the glory to God-none to himself and none to man's weapons or skill. With every fiber of his being he honors and magnifies the name of the Most High. The example of his love and devotion to the Lord makes many of us realize how cold and unresponsive we often are.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ps 9:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Did you now?
However nations might justify and judge their actions, the ultimate Judge of their conduct is God. His righteousness, which flows from His very character, is the final standard against which right and wrong is measured (Ps. 9:4). This righteous Judge rebuked the nations of David's day for failing to do what David had done in Psalm 8-acknowledge God (8:1, 9).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ps 9:3-5). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Daily Bible Verse - 10/13/2007 - Jude 1:22-23

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

Jude 1:22-23

Commentary
Although Jude deplored and condemned false teachers, he recommended an attitude of compassion toward those who were swayed by their message. Some required gentle correction; others, however, would need to be pulled "out of the fire" forcefully (v. 23). Jude used the image of soiled clothes as a metaphor for sin (see Zech. 3:3, 4; Rev. 3:4). He said that Christians ought to hate "even the garment defiled by the flesh" (Jude 23). Jude wanted his readers to avoid all contamination by sin, hating sin as much as they would loathe soiled undergarments. To treat sin as normal and commonplace is a temptation. However, Jude identified this attitude as a betrayal of the gospel. Christians have been "clothed" in righteousness. Therefore, they ought to be repulsed by their old, filthy "garments" of sin.

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Jud 22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"hating even the garment defiled by the flesh"
In the OT the clothing of a leper was contaminated and had to be burned (Lev. 13:47-52). So in dealing with people who have become defiled, we must be careful to avoid anything which might prove a temptation in our own lives.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jud 23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.