Put on Gentleness

 

June 30, 2026

A compilation

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Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience.—Colossians 3:12

While I was walking along in an open field at sunrise, I noticed something in the distance, gently floating down from the sky. I went to pick it up. It was a tiny, downy bird feather. I looked all around. There wasn’t a bird in sight. Now I’m not trying to be spooky or hyper-spiritual, because I know it was a regular bird feather, probably from the underbelly of a dove, but the gentle way it fell from the sky really spoke to my spirit.

Gentleness. Do you know that’s one of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5? It’s right there, smack-dab in between “goodness” and “faithfulness.” To be honest, it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit I rarely think about. I was in a church service where the preacher was rattling off the fruits of the Spirit in his sermon, and he left “gentleness” out. I didn’t even realize it, and I don’t think anyone else did either, until someone on the front row said, “You left off gentleness.” It was a telling moment for me that I didn’t even realize it was overlooked.

Even if we need to confront someone who has done us wrong, Christians should be known for their gentle demeanor. If the Holy Spirit (the heavenly dove) is in us, He will show us how to be gentle. Do you remember what Jesus told His disciples when He sent them out to minister? “Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).—Greg A. Lane¹

A perfect picture

Galatians 5:22–23 says that the Holy Spirit works in us to be more like Christ (Ephesians 4:14–16), and part of the fruit, or results, of that work is gentleness. Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. …

When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with easiness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is far more important than our pride (2 Timothy 2:24–25). We will forgive readily, because any offense toward us is nothing compared to our offenses against God—offenses He’s already forgiven (Matthew 18:23–35). …

Jesus gave us the perfect picture of gentleness: “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5), and now He offers us His gentleness as a gift. If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will be filled with the fruit of gentleness.—GotQuestions.org²

What it means to me

Gentleness is prautes in the original Greek text. It’s been translated both as “meekness” and “gentleness.” Here I’ve compiled briefly what the concept means to me.

Submission to God: Jesus is the perfect example of being entirely devoted to doing God’s will, whatever the cost. Even when faced with His impending arrest and execution, He told His Father, “I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39).

Meekness means thinking less of what I want and more of what God wants.

Readiness to learn: If the Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) could say, “I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him,” then how much more is that true for me!

Meekness means never thinking I know enough or that I’m too good or exalted to learn from others.

Consideration: When Moses’ own brother and sister attacked his position as leader of the Israelites, he remained gentle toward them and let God deal with the situation. Even after God had vindicated him, his only concern was for Miriam to be forgiven and healed.³

Gentleness is never self-important, and it is always kind and courteous.

Not hateful or wimpy: Gentleness is never hateful, but neither is it wimpy. It’s getting indignant at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reasons.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).—Ronan Keane

Where does gentleness come from?

Gentleness comes “from above” (James 3:17), from “the Father of lights,” the unchangeable source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Gentleness is a divine gift to unworthy sinners. And, as is the case regarding all we have in Christ—our identity, our gifts, our virtues—gentleness is a gift that is “received, not achieved.”

Jesus Christ is the supreme embodiment of the gentleness that comes from above because he is divine Wisdom incarnate (Psalm 45:4; Matthew 11:29). During his earthly ministry, Jesus displayed supreme gentleness in that, “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return” (1 Peter 2:23), but instead suffered the consequences of our sinful anger “in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). …

Having sown his body in the ground through humility and gentleness, Jesus reaped a harvest of righteousness for us in his resurrection, ascension, and enthronement at the Father’s right hand (John 12:24; James 3:18), the fruits of which he has poured out upon us in the person of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23; Philippians 1:9–11). Accordingly, the meekness that comes from above comes not only in Jesus Christ but also through Jesus Christ, who anoints and endows us with “a spirit of gentleness” (1 Corinthians 4:21; Galatians 6:1)

Though gentleness is a gift, something that is “received, not achieved,” gentleness can nevertheless be cultivated.

Here two errors must be avoided. On the one hand, we must not think that gentleness can be achieved by pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps… Gentleness is a “fruit of the Spirit,” not a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:22–23). On the other hand, we must not think that gentleness can be achieved through passivity. …

Gentleness, like all graces which are ours through union with Jesus Christ, is a gift that is to be actively received and appropriated through faith, hope, and love.

Gentleness is cultivated through union and communion with Jesus Christ, [which is] well illustrated through the biblical metaphor of being clothed with Christ in baptism. … [This] is also something we are called to actively appropriate—something we are called to “put on.” …

If the vice of anger is among the severest spiritual afflictions of our age, then the virtue of gentleness is among the most needful spiritual medicines. While there exist many helpful protocols regarding how we might manage our participation in the “outrage machine” of contemporary (especially social media) culture, the deep cure for our ills will not come merely through adopting such protocols for self-control, but through cultivating the virtue of gentleness. …

Though we fall short in many ways when it comes to the virtue of gentleness, it is important to remember that Jesus Christ is an inexhaustible fountain of gentleness, and that he gently invites us to draw freely upon his inexhaustible fullness. ... When it comes to the virtue of gentleness, he is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:1–5). The strength of our virtue, and of our growth in virtue, lies not in ourselves, but in him in whose presence we find “quietness and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17).—Scott Swain⁴

Reflections on gentleness

In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft and virtually spineless. Not so! Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.―Charles R. Swindoll

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A Christian reveals true humility by showing the gentleness of Christ, by being always ready to help others, by speaking kind words and performing unselfish acts, which elevate and ennoble the most sacred message that has come to our world.―Ellen G. White

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Gentleness is the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger, but to be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.―Aristotle

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Gentleness is not apathy but is an aggressive expression of how we view people. We see people as so valuable that we deal with them in gentleness, fearing the slightest damage to one for whom Christ died. To be apathetic is to turn people over to mean and destructive elements, to truly love people causes us to be aggressively gentle.―Gayle D. Erwin

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If zeal had been appropriate for putting humanity right, why did God the Word clothe himself in the body, using gentleness and humility in order to bring the world back to his Father?―Isaac of Nineveh

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Gentleness is not weakness. Just the opposite. Preserving a gentle spirit in a heartless world takes extraordinary courage, determination, and resilience. Do not underestimate the power of gentleness, because gentleness is strength wrapped in peace, and therein lies the power to change the world.―L. R. Knost

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I choose gentleness … Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.—Max Lucado

Published on Anchor June 2026. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Dooley.

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¹ Greg A. Lane, My Morning Walks with God (Inspired Design & Graphics, 2016).

² “The Fruit of the Holy Spirit—What is gentleness?” GotQuestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-gentleness.html

³  See Numbers 12:1–16.

⁴ Scott Swain, “Cultivating Gentleness in an Age of Outrage,” Desiring God, December 12, 2019,  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/masters-of-self

Copyright © 2026 The Family International

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Psalm 59 - Deliver Me From My Enemies

 

Psalm 59  A Psalm of David when Saul sent and they watched the house to Kill him.

Read 1 Samuel 19:11-18

“Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So, Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.  And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

“And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

“So, David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.”

Commentaries by Dennis Edwards

Psalm 59:1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

We see David over and over again praying against his enemies. Yet, we see David over and over again letting God do the fighting for him. Maybe he had read in Deuteronomy 32:35 where God said, “To Me belongs vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”

Apostle Paul, likewise, makes the same point and quotes from that passage in his defence of letting God be responsible for vengeance.

Romans 12:19-21 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Apostle Paul has, also, quoted from Proverbs 25:21-22 in the section about feeding your enemy and heaping coals of fire on his head, in the day of judgment.

Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount in a like manner had mentioned we should not be vengeful. 

Matthew 5:39,40,43,44 “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other, also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak, also. … Ye have that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Apostle Peter had lifted up the sword to smite the Temple guards who came against Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus rebuked him and said, “Put up again thy sword unto his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword,” Matthew 26:52. That same Apostle later wrote, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. … Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator,” 1 Peter 4:16.19. Peter was saying not to take up vengeance, but to willing accept our lot of suffering for Christ’s sake. We should follow Jesus' example.

The time will soon come when God will poor out His vengeance on the wicked. As Christians we need to be patient until that day comes. “In your patience possess ye your souls,” Luke 21:19. Even the souls of them which were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held, when they asked God to avenge their blood, were told to be patient and wait, “yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled,” Revelation 6:11b.

The judgment of the wicked is coming. Though it seems to tarry, wait for it. It will come. God’s word predicts it will come. Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, … but now is My kingdom not from thence.” It will be at the sounding of the seventh trumpet that we will hear great voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15. Until that time we need to be patient.

Psalm 59:2-4 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.

The wicked hate us not because of our sins, but because of our faith and our lifestyle that expose their sins and lack of faith in the most High God. They hate us because they hate God.

Psalm 59:5 Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

As David prayed, we, too, can pray against our enemies. We can pray for their judgment and for their salvation.

Psalm 59:6-7 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, does hear?

The wicked of the past and present are like the Antichrist of Daniel 7:25a, “And he shall speak great words against the most High.” In Revelation 13:5-6, we see the same attributes. “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies… And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” The wicked antichrists blaspheme God and His name without impunity. God, however, does hear and will reward them presently.

Psalm 59:8 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

We have seen the Lord laughing at the wicked in earlier psalms. How ridiculous man is to think he can blaspheme God and get away with it. 

Psalm 2:6-5 "He (the Lord) that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure." 

Psalm 37:12-13 "The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for He sees that his day is coming." 

Psalm 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

David’s enemies are too strong for him, as ours are for us today. David waits upon God to be his defence. We should do likewise.

Psalm 59:10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me (or be with me): God shall let me see my desire upon my enemies.

David knows it is God’s mercy that enables him to stand and not his own righteousness, God is “the God of my mercy.”

Psalm 59:11-12 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Again, we see the attributes of the wicked in their lying mouths and pride. Jesus, when addressing the Pharisees accused them of being children of the devil, the father of all lies.

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is liar, and the father of it.”

In Jude we see on the Lord's return He will execute judgment upon those whose mouths have run hard against God and the godly.

Jude 14-16  "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints (at the Battle of Armageddon), to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaking great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."

Psalm 59:13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God rules in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

When finally God’s judgments fall, people will begin to realize the judgments happened because men lost faith in God. Like Solzhenitsyn, who asked, Why did the Revolution that swallowed up some 20,000,000 Russian people happen? The over whelming response from the people was, “Men had forgotten God, that’s why all these things happened. Men had forgotten God.”

Every knee shall one day bow, and every tongue shall one day confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lord, and King of Kings,

Psalm 59:14-15 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

If we don’t find repentance and come into the arms of Jesus there is a “fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries,” or God haters, Hebrews 10:26.

On the New Heaven and New earth, outside the heavenly city, it looks like God in His mercy allows some of the wicked to continue to live in the spiritual dimension. We find outside the gates of the city “dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes lies,” Revelation 22:15. Earlier in Revelation 21:8 we see the same group having “their part in the lake of fire burning with brimstone: which is the second death.”

Perhaps the degree of sin is different between the two groups. Some were beyond repentance. Others may have had a chance of some sort of repentance in the spiritual dimension. Perhaps, their sins were not as grievous as the first group. Therefore, God in His mercy extends them mercy and allows them to live outside the city. Could these and other such souls be the nations in need of healing and salvation outside the heavenly city walls? They may be the souls to whom we, the saved living inside the city, will go to with the leaves from the tree of life for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:2 "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations."

Psalm 59:16-17 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

God’s mercy is great. His mercy endures to all generations.

Exodus 34:6-7a “And the Lord passed by Moses and proclaimed, The LORD. The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.”

Our God is a God of mercy, but to be true and righteous He must judge and punish the guilty who repent not, nor come unto God by Jesus Christ, the author of salvation and eternal life. To those who come unto God by Him, He is a refuge and a defence., a strong tower. The righteousness run into Him and are safe. For He is "a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat," Isaiah 25:4 b. 

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Salmo 59 - Livra-me dos meus inimigos

Salmo 59. Um Salmo de David quando Saul enviou mensageiros para vigiar a casa e matá-lo.

Leia 1 Samuel 19:11-18

“Saul enviou também mensageiros a casa de David para o vigiar e matar de manhã. Mical, mulher de David, disse-lhe: ‘Se não salvares a tua vida esta noite, amanhã serás morto’. Então Mical fez David descer por uma janela; e ele fugiu e escapou. Mical pegou numa imagem e deitou-a na cama, com uma almofada de pelos de cabra por cima, e cobriu-a com um pano. Quando Saul enviou mensageiros para prender David, ela disse: ‘Ele está doente’.

“Então Saul enviou novamente os mensageiros para ver David, dizendo: ‘Tragam-no até mim à cama, para que eu o mate’. Quando os mensageiros entraram, encontraram uma imagem na cama, com uma almofada de pelos de cabra por cima.” Saul disse a Mical: "Porque me enganaste assim e deixaste escapar o meu inimigo?". Mical respondeu a Saul: "Ele disse-me: 'Deixa-me ir; porque te mataria eu?'"

"Então, David fugiu e escapou, e foi ter com Samuel a Ramá, e contou-lhe tudo o que Saul lhe tinha feito. Depois, ele e Samuel foram viver para Naiote."

Comentários de Dennis Edwards

Salmo 59:1 Livra-me dos meus inimigos, ó Deus meu; defende-me dos que se levantam contra mim.

Vemos David repetidamente a orar contra os seus inimigos. Contudo, vemos David a deixar repetidamente Deus lutar por ele. Talvez tivesse lido em Deuteronómio 32:35, onde Deus disse: "A mim pertence a vingança e a retribuição; o seu pé resvalará no tempo devido, porque o dia da sua calamidade está próximo, e as coisas que lhes sobrevirão se apressam."

O apóstolo Paulo, da mesma forma, faz a mesma observação e cita esta passagem em sua defesa de deixar Deus ser responsável pela vingança.

Romanos 12:19-21: “Amados, não vos vingueis; pelo contrário, deem lugar à ira de Deus, pois está escrito: ‘A vingança pertence-me; eu retribuirei’, diz o Senhor. Portanto, se o vosso inimigo tiver fome, dai-lhe de comer; se tiver sede, dai-lhe de beber. Fazendo isto, amontoarás brasas vivas sobre a sua cabeça. Não vos deixeis vencer pelo mal, mas vencei o mal com o bem.”

O apóstolo Paulo também citou Provérbios 25:21-22 na secção sobre alimentar o inimigo e amontoar brasas vivas sobre a sua cabeça no dia do juízo.

Jesus, no seu Sermão da Montanha, mencionou de forma semelhante que não devemos ser vingativos.

Mateus 5:39,40,43,44 “Mas eu vos digo que não resistais ao mal; pelo contrário, se alguém te bater na face direita, oferece-lhe também a outra. E, se alguém quiser processar-te e tirar-te a túnica, deixa-lhe levar também a capa. [...] Recebestes o que foi dito: Amarás o teu próximo e odiarás o teu inimigo. Eu, porém, vos digo: Amai os vossos inimigos, bendizei os que vos maldizem, fazei o bem aos que vos odeiam e orai pelos que vos perseguem e caluniam.”

O apóstolo Pedro tinha erguido a espada para ferir os guardas do Templo que se opunham a Jesus no Jardim do Getsémani. Jesus repreendeu-o, dizendo: “Guarda a tua espada no seu lugar; porque todos os que empunham a espada, pela espada morrerão” (Mateus 26:52). O mesmo apóstolo escreveu mais tarde: “Mas, se alguém sofre como cristão, não se envergonhe; antes, glorifique a Deus por isso. […] Portanto, aqueles que sofrem segundo a vontade de Deus confiem as suas almas a Ele, praticando o bem, como a um fiel Criador” (1 Pedro 4:16,19). Pedro estava a dizer para não procurarmos vingança, mas aceitarmos de bom grado o nosso destino de sofrimento por amor a Cristo. Devemos seguir o exemplo de Jesus.

Em breve chegará o tempo em que Deus derramará a Sua vingança sobre os ímpios. Como cristãos, precisamos de ser pacientes até que esse dia chegue. “Na vossa paciência possuireis as vossas almas” (Lucas 21:19). Mesmo às almas daqueles que foram mortos por causa da palavra de Deus e pelo testemunho que deram, quando pediram a Deus que vingasse o seu sangue, foi dito que fossem pacientes e esperassem “ainda por um pouco de tempo, até que se completasse o número dos seus conservos e seus irmãos, que também haviam de ser mortos como eles” (Apocalipse 6:11b).

O julgamento dos ímpios está a chegar. Embora pareça demorar, espere por ele. Ele virá. A palavra de Deus prediz que virá. Jesus disse a Pilatos: “O meu reino não é deste mundo; se o meu reino fosse deste mundo, os meus servos combateriam, […] mas agora o meu reino não é daqui”. Será ao soar da sétima trombeta que ouviremos grandes vozes no céu a dizer: “Os reinos do mundo vieram a ser do nosso Senhor e do seu Cristo, e Ele reinará pelos séculos dos séculos” (Apocalipse 11:15). Até lá, precisamos de ser pacientes.

Salmo 59:2-4 Livra-me dos que praticam a iniquidade e salva-me dos homens sanguinários. Pois eis que armam ciladas contra a minha alma; os poderosos se ajuntam contra mim, não por minha transgressão nem por meu pecado, ó Senhor. Correm e preparam-se sem a minha culpa; desperta para me socorrer e eis que vedo.

Os ímpios odeiam-nos não por causa dos nossos pecados, mas por causa da nossa fé e do nosso estilo de vida que expõem os seus pecados e a falta de fé no Deus Altíssimo. Eles odeiam-nos porque odeiam a Deus.

Salmo 59:5 Tu, pois, Senhor Deus dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, desperta para visitar todas as nações; não tenhas piedade de nenhum transgressor ímpio. (Selá)

Assim como David orou, também nós podemos orar contra os nossos inimigos. Podemos orar pelo seu julgamento e pela sua salvação.

Salmo 59:6-7 Voltam à tarde; fazem barulho como cães e andam à volta da cidade. Eis que arrotam com a boca; espadas estão nos seus lábios; pois quem os ouve?, dizem eles.

Os ímpios do passado e do presente são como o Anticristo de Daniel 7:25a: “E proferirá palavras contra o Altíssimo”. Em Apocalipse 13:5-6, vemos os mesmos atributos. “E foi-lhe dada uma boca para proferir grandes coisas e blasfémias… E abriu a sua boca em blasfémias contra Deus, para blasfemar o seu nome, e o seu tabernáculo, e os que habitam no céu.” Os anticristos ímpios blasfemam contra Deus e o seu nome impunemente. Deus, porém, ouve e em breve os recompensará.

Salmo 59:8 Mas tu, Senhor, te rirás deles; zombarás de todas as nações.

Já vimos o Senhor a rir-se dos ímpios em salmos anteriores. Quão ridículo é o homem pensar que pode blasfemar contra Deus e sair impune.

Salmo 2:6-5 “Aquele que está assentado nos céus rirá; o Senhor zombará deles. Então lhes falará na sua ira, e os afligirá no seu furor.”

Salmo 37:12-13 "O ímpio trama contra o justo e range os dentes contra ele. O Senhor ri-se dele, pois vê que o seu dia está a chegar."

Salmo 59:9 "Por causa da tua força, esperarei em ti, pois Deus é a minha defesa."

Os inimigos de David eram demasiado fortes para ele, tal como os nossos são para nós hoje. David espera em Deus para que Ele seja a sua defesa. Nós também devemos fazer o mesmo.

Salmo 59:10 "O Deus da minha misericórdia me guiará (ou estará comigo); Deus fará com que eu veja o meu desejo sobre os meus inimigos."

David sabe que é a misericórdia de Deus que o capacita para permanecer firme, e não a sua própria justiça. Deus é "o Deus da minha misericórdia".

Salmo 59:11-12 "Não os mates, para que o meu povo não se esqueça; dispersa-os com o teu poder e abate-os, ó Senhor, nosso escudo." Sejam apanhados no vosso orgulho pelo pecado da boca e pelas palavras dos lábios, e pelas maldições e mentiras que proferem.

Novamente, vemos os atributos dos ímpios nas suas bocas mentirosas e no seu orgulho. Jesus, ao dirigir-se aos fariseus, acusou-os de serem filhos do diabo, o pai de todas as mentiras.

João 8:44: “Vós sois do diabo, que é o vosso pai, e quereis satisfazer os seus desejos. Ele foi homicida desde o princípio e jamais se firmou na verdade, porque não há verdade nele. Quando mente, fala a sua própria língua, porque é mentiroso e pai da mentira.”

Em Judas, vemos que, no regresso do Senhor, Ele executará o juízo sobre aqueles cujas bocas se voltaram contra Deus e os justos.

Judas 14-16: "E Enoque, o sétimo depois de Adão, profetizou a respeito deles, dizendo: Eis que o Senhor vem com milhares de seus santos (na batalha do Armagedom), para executar juízo sobre todos e convencer a todos os ímpios de todas as suas obras de impiedade que praticaram e de todas as palavras duras que os pecadores ímpios proferiram contra ele. Estes são murmuradores e queixosos, que andam segundo as suas próprias concupiscências; a sua boca profere palavras arrogantes e bajula os homens por interesse."

Salmo 59:13: "Consome-os na ira, consome-os, para que não existam mais; e saibam que Deus reina em Jacob até aos confins da terra." (Selá)

Quando finalmente os juízos de Deus se cumprirem, as pessoas começarão a perceber que os juízos aconteceram porque os homens perderam a fé em Deus. Tal como Soljenítsin, que perguntou: "Porque aconteceu a Revolução que dizimou cerca de 20 milhões de russos?", a resposta esmagadora do povo foi: "Os homens esqueceram-se de Deus, por isso tudo aconteceu. Os homens esqueceram-se de Deus."

Um dia, todo o joelho se dobrará e toda a língua confessará que Jesus Cristo é o Senhor dos Senhores e o Rei dos Reis.

Salmo 59:14-15: "Ao cair da tarde, voltem, ladrem como cães e percorram a cidade. Andem errantes em busca de alimento e reclamem se não forem satisfeitos."

Se não nos arrependermos e não nos entregarmos aos braços de Jesus, haverá uma "aguarda terrível de juízo e de fogo indignado, que devorará os adversários", ou seja, os que odeiam a Deus (Hebreus 10:26).

No Novo Céu e na Nova Terra, fora da cidade celeste, parece que Deus, na Sua misericórdia, permite que alguns dos ímpios continuem a viver na dimensão espiritual. Encontramos fora das portas da cidade “cães, feiticeiros, impuros, assassinos, idólatras e todo aquele que ama e pratica a mentira”, Apocalipse 22:15.

Anteriormente, em Apocalipse 21:8, vemos o mesmo grupo a ter “a sua parte no lago de fogo que arde com enxofre, que é a segunda morte”.

Talvez o grau de pecado seja diferente entre os dois grupos. Alguns estavam para além do arrependimento. Outros podem ter tido alguma hipótese de arrependimento na dimensão espiritual. Talvez os seus pecados não fossem tão graves como os do primeiro grupo. Por isso, Deus, na Sua misericórdia, estende-lhes misericórdia e permite-lhes viver fora da cidade. Poderão estas e outras almas semelhantes ser as nações que necessitam de cura e salvação fora dos muros da cidade celeste? Podem ser as almas às quais nós, os salvos que vivemos dentro da cidade, iremos com as folhas da árvore da vida para a cura das nações.

Apocalipse 22:2: “No meio da rua principal da cidade, e de ambos os lados do rio, estava a árvore da vida, que produz doze frutos, dando o seu fruto de mês em mês; e as folhas da árvore são para a cura das nações.”

Salmo 59:16-17 Mas eu cantarei o teu poder; sim, cantarei em alta voz a tua misericórdia pela manhã, porque tens sido a minha defesa e o meu refúgio no dia da minha angústia. A Vós, ó minha fortaleza, cantarei, porque Deus é a minha defesa e o Deus da minha misericórdia.

A misericórdia de Deus é grande. A sua misericórdia dura por todas as gerações.

Êxodo 34:6-7a “E o Senhor passou por Moisés e proclamou: O SENHOR, o SENHOR Deus, misericordioso e compassivo, longânimo e cheio de amor e fidelidade, que mantém o seu amor a milhares, que perdoa a iniquidade, a rebeldia e o pecado, mas que de maneira nenhuma inocenta o culpado.”

O nosso Deus é um Deus de misericórdia, mas para ser verdadeiro e justo, Ele deve julgar e castigar os culpados que não se arrependem nem vêm a Deus por meio de Jesus Cristo, o autor da salvação e da vida eterna. Para aqueles que vêm a Deus por meio d’Ele, Ele é um refúgio e uma defesa, uma torre forte. Os justos correm para Ele e estão seguros. Pois Ele é "uma fortaleza para o pobre, uma fortaleza para o necessitado na sua angústia, um refúgio contra a tempestade, uma sombra contra o calor", Isaías 25:4b.

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Salmo 59 - Líbrame de mis enemigos

Salmo 59. Salmo de David, cuando Saúl envió mensajeros para vigilar la casa y matarlo.

Leer 1 Samuel 19:11-18

Saúl envió mensajeros a la casa de David para vigilarlo y matarlo por la mañana. Mical, la esposa de David, le dijo: «Si no salvas tu vida esta noche, mañana serás asesinado». Entonces Mical descolgó a David por una ventana; él huyó y escapó. Mical tomó una imagen, la puso en la cama, le puso una almohada de pelo de cabra por almohadón y la cubrió con un paño. Cuando Saúl envió mensajeros para llevarse a David, ella dijo: «Está enfermo».

Saúl envió de nuevo mensajeros para ver a David, diciendo: «Tráiganmelo en la cama para matarlo». Cuando los mensajeros llegaron, encontraron la imagen en la cama, con una almohada de pelo de cabra por almohadón. Y Saúl le dijo a Mical: «¿Por qué me has engañado así, dejando escapar a mi enemigo?». Y Mical respondió a Saúl: «Me dijo: “Déjame ir”; ¿por qué habría de matarte?».

«Entonces David huyó y escapó, y fue a ver a Samuel en Ramá, y le contó todo lo que Saúl le había hecho. Y él y Samuel fueron y se establecieron en Naiot».

Comentarios de Dennis Edwards

Salmo 59:1 «Líbrame de mis enemigos, oh Dios mío; defiéndeme de los que se levantan contra mí».

Vemos a David orando repetidamente contra sus enemigos. Sin embargo, también vemos a David dejando que Dios luche por él. Quizás había leído en Deuteronomio 32:35 donde Dios dice: «Mía es la venganza y la retribución; a su debido tiempo resbalarán sus pies, porque el día de su calamidad está cerca, y lo que les ha de sobrevenir se apresura».

El apóstol Pablo, asimismo, plantea la misma idea y cita ese pasaje en su defensa de dejar que Dios se responsabilice de la venganza.

Romanos 12:19-21: «Amados, no os venguéis vosotros mismos, sino dejad lugar a la ira de Dios; porque escrito está: “Mía es la venganza, yo pagaré”, dice el Señor. Así que, si tu enemigo tiene hambre, dale de comer; si tiene sed, dale de beber; pues haciendo esto, amontonarás ascuas de fuego sobre su cabeza. No te dejes vencer por el mal, sino vence el mal con el bien».

El apóstol Pablo también citó Proverbios 25:21-22 en la sección sobre alimentar al enemigo y amontonar ascuas de fuego sobre su cabeza en el día del juicio.

Jesús, en su Sermón del Monte, mencionó de manera similar que no debemos ser vengativos.

Mateo 5:39,40,43,44 «Pero yo os digo: No resistáis al que es malo; antes bien, a cualquiera que te golpee en la mejilla derecha, vuélvele también la otra. Y al que quiera demandarte en juicio para quitarte la túnica, déjale también la capa. … Se os ha dicho: Amarás a tu prójimo y odiarás a tu enemigo. Pero yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, bendecid a los que os maldicen, haced bien a los que os odian, y orad por los que os ultrajan y os persiguen».

El apóstol Pedro había alzado la espada para atacar a los guardias del Templo que se opusieron a Jesús en el Huerto de Getsemaní. Jesús lo reprendió y le dijo: «Vuelve a guardar tu espada en su lugar, porque todos los que tomen la espada, a espada perecerán» (Mateo 26:52). Ese mismo apóstol escribió más tarde: «Pero si alguno sufre por ser cristiano, no se avergüence, sino glorifique a Dios por ello… Por tanto, los que sufren según la voluntad de Dios, encomienden sus almas a él, haciendo el bien, como a un Creador fiel» (1 Pedro 4:16-19). Pedro no nos decía que buscáramos venganza, sino que aceptáramos con voluntad nuestro sufrimiento por amor a Cristo. Debemos seguir el ejemplo de Jesús.

Pronto llegará el momento en que Dios derramará su venganza sobre los impíos. Como cristianos, debemos ser pacientes hasta que llegue ese día. «Con vuestra paciencia ganaréis vuestras almas» (Lucas 21:19). Incluso a las almas de aquellos que fueron asesinados por la palabra de Dios y por el testimonio que dieron, cuando pidieron a Dios que vengara su sangre, se les dijo que tuvieran paciencia y esperaran, «aún por un poco de tiempo, hasta que se complete el número de sus consiervos y hermanos que también serían muertos como ellos», Apocalipsis 6:11b.

El juicio de los impíos se acerca. Aunque parezca demorarse, espérenlo. Llegará. La palabra de Dios predice que llegará. Jesús le dijo a Pilato: «Mi reino no es de este mundo; si mi reino fuera de este mundo, mis siervos lucharían… pero ahora mi reino no es de aquí». Será al sonar la séptima trompeta que oiremos grandes voces en el cielo que dirán: «Los reinos de este mundo han venido a ser de nuestro Señor y de su Cristo; y él reinará por los siglos de los siglos», Apocalipsis 11:15. Hasta entonces, debemos tener paciencia.

Salmo 59:2-4 Líbrame de los que hacen iniquidad, y sálvame de los hombres sanguinarios. Porque he aquí, acechan mi alma; los poderosos se han reunido contra mí; no por mi transgresión, ni por mi pecado, oh Señor. Corren y se preparan sin que yo tenga culpa; despierta para ayudarme, y mira.

Los malvados nos odian no por nuestros pecados, sino por nuestra fe y nuestro estilo de vida, que exponen sus pecados y su falta de fe en el Dios Altísimo. Nos odian porque odian a Dios.

Salmo 59:5: «Por tanto, tú, Señor Dios de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel, despierta para visitar a todas las naciones; no tengas misericordia de ningún transgresor impío. Selah».

Como David oró, nosotros también podemos orar contra nuestros enemigos. Podemos orar por su juicio y por su salvación.

Salmo 59:6-7: «Regresan al anochecer; hacen ruido como perros y dan vueltas alrededor de la ciudad. He aquí, eructan con su boca; espadas hay en sus labios; pues, dicen, ¿quién los oye?».

Los malvados del pasado y del presente son como el Anticristo de Daniel 7:25a: «Y hablará palabras contra el Altísimo». En Apocalipsis 13:5-6, vemos los mismos atributos. “Y se le dio una boca que hablaba grandes cosas y blasfemias… Y abrió su boca para blasfemar contra Dios, para blasfemar contra su nombre, y contra su tabernáculo, y contra los que moran en los cielos.” ​​Los malvados anticristos blasfeman contra Dios y su nombre impunemente. Sin embargo, Dios los escucha y pronto los castigará.

Salmo 59:8 Pero tú, oh Jehová, te reirás de ellos; tendrás a todas las naciones en burla.

Hemos visto a Jehová riéndose de los malvados en salmos anteriores. ¡Qué ridículo es el hombre al pensar que puede blasfemar contra Dios y salir impune!

Salmo 2:6-5 “El que está sentado en los cielos se reirá; Jehová los tendrá en burla. Entonces les hablará en su ira, y los castigará en su furor.”

Salmo 37:12-13 «El impío trama contra el justo, y rechina los dientes contra él. El Señor se reirá de él, pues ve que le llega su día.»

Salmo 59:9 «Por tu poder esperaré en ti, porque Dios es mi defensa.»

Los enemigos de David eran demasiado fuertes para él, como lo son los nuestros hoy. David esperaba en Dios su defensa. Nosotros también deberíamos hacerlo.

Salmo 59:10 «El Dios de mi misericordia me protegerá (o estará conmigo); Dios me permitirá ver mi deseo sobre mis enemigos.»

David sabe que es la misericordia de Dios la que le permite mantenerse firme, y no su propia justicia; Dios es «el Dios de mi misericordia».

Salmo 59:11-12 «No los mates, para que mi pueblo no lo olvide; dispérsalos con tu poder, y derríbalos, oh Señor, escudo nuestro.» Por el pecado de su boca y las palabras de sus labios, sean atrapados en su orgullo; y por las maldiciones y mentiras que profieren.

Una vez más, vemos los atributos de los impíos en sus bocas mentirosas y su orgullo. Jesús, al dirigirse a los fariseos, los acusó de ser hijos del diablo, padre de toda mentira.

Juan 8:44: «Vosotros sois de vuestro padre el diablo, y los deseos de vuestro padre queréis cumplir. Él fue homicida desde el principio, y no permaneció en la verdad, porque no hay verdad en él. Cuando habla mentira, de lo suyo habla; porque es mentiroso, y padre de mentira».

En Judas vemos que, en el regreso del Señor, Él ejecutará juicio sobre aquellos cuyas bocas se han vuelto contra Dios y los justos.

Judas 14-16: «Enoc, el séptimo desde Adán, profetizó acerca de estos, diciendo: “He aquí que el Señor viene con millares de sus santos (en la batalla de Armagedón), para ejecutar juicio sobre todos, y para convencer a todos los impíos de entre ellos de todas sus obras impías que han cometido, y de todas las palabras duras que los pecadores impíos han hablado contra él. Estos son murmuradores, quejumbrosos, que andan tras sus propios deseos; y su boca habla palabras arrogantes, buscando la admiración de los hombres por conveniencia”».

Salmo 59:13: «Consúmelos con tu ira, consúmelos, para que no existan; y que sepan que Dios gobierna en Jacob hasta los confines de la tierra. Selah».

Cuando finalmente caigan los juicios de Dios, la gente comenzará a comprender que estos juicios ocurrieron porque los hombres perdieron la fe en Dios. Como Solzhenitsyn, quien preguntó: ¿Por qué ocurrió la Revolución que se cobró la vida de unos 20 millones de rusos? La respuesta unánime del pueblo fue: «Los hombres se habían olvidado de Dios; por eso sucedieron todas estas cosas. Los hombres se habían olvidado de Dios».

Un día toda rodilla se doblará, y toda lengua confesará que Jesucristo es Señor de Señores y Rey de Reyes.

Salmo 59:14-15: «Al anochecer, regresen; hagan ruido como perros y recorran la ciudad. Anden buscando comida, y se quejen si no quedan satisfechos».

Si no nos arrepentimos y nos refugiamos en los brazos de Jesús, nos espera una «terrible espera de juicio y fuego ardiente que consumirá a los adversarios», es decir, a los que odian a Dios. Hebreos 10:26.

En el Nuevo Cielo y la Nueva Tierra, fuera de la ciudad celestial, parece que Dios, en su misericordia, permite que algunos impíos sigan viviendo en la dimensión espiritual. Fuera de las puertas de la ciudad encontramos «perros, hechiceros, fornicarios, asesinos, idólatras y todo aquel que ama y practica la mentira» (Apocalipsis 22:15).

Anteriormente, en Apocalipsis 21:8, vemos que el mismo grupo tiene “su parte en el lago de fuego que arde con azufre, que es la segunda muerte”.

Quizás la gravedad del pecado sea diferente entre ambos grupos. Algunos estaban más allá del arrepentimiento. Otros tal vez tuvieron la oportunidad de algún tipo de arrepentimiento en la dimensión espiritual. Quizás sus pecados no fueron tan graves como los del primer grupo. Por lo tanto, Dios, en su misericordia, les concede misericordia y les permite vivir fuera de la ciudad. ¿Podrían estas y otras almas similares ser las naciones que necesitan sanación y salvación fuera de los muros de la ciudad celestial? Quizás sean las almas a las que nosotros, los salvos que vivimos dentro de la ciudad, iremos con las hojas del árbol de la vida para la sanación de las naciones.

Apocalipsis 22:2: “En medio de la calle de la ciudad, y a ambos lados del río, estaba el árbol de la vida, que daba doce clases de fruto, y daba su fruto cada mes; y las hojas del árbol eran para la sanación de las naciones”.

Salmo 59:16-17 Pero yo cantaré de tu poder; sí, cantaré con júbilo de tu misericordia por la mañana, porque tú has sido mi defensa y refugio en el día de mi angustia. A ti, oh fortaleza mía, cantaré; porque Dios es mi defensa, y el Dios de mi misericordia.

La misericordia de Dios es grande. Su misericordia perdura por todas las generaciones.

Éxodo 34:6-7a «Y el Señor pasó junto a Moisés y proclamó: “El Señor, el Señor Dios, misericordioso y clemente, lento para la ira, grande en bondad y verdad, que guarda misericordia a millares, que perdona la iniquidad, la transgresión y el pecado, y que de ninguna manera dejará sin castigo al culpable”».

Nuestro Dios es un Dios de misericordia, pero para ser verdadero y justo, debe juzgar y castigar a los culpables que no se arrepienten ni se acercan a Dios por medio de Jesucristo, el autor de la salvación y la vida eterna. Para quienes se acercan a Dios por medio de Él, Él es refugio y defensa, una torre fuerte. Los justos corren a Él y están a salvo. Porque Él es «fortaleza para el pobre, fortaleza para el necesitado en su angustia, refugio de la tempestad, sombra del calor», Isaías 25:4b.

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Our Lifeline: Time with Jesus

If we don’t take it, we won’t make it!

Maria Fontaine    June 29, 2026

Audio length: 8:15
Download Audio (7.5MB)

Most people are becoming more aware of the magnitude of tragedies, suffering, and death in many places around the world. People’s wrong choices have triggered so many problems for a very long time. With the world being so interconnected, we find ourselves facing a constant flood of many heartrending accounts that test our faith to the core, because we can’t see all that Jesus sees.

There are also circumstances that can affect us personally, such as the suffering of loved ones, or the too-often-unseen suffering in the lives of others around us that few seem to notice. Or it may be our own suffering and losses that bring us pain far beyond what words can express.

These troubles help lead us to Jesus, in the same way that Jesus came to His Father at every opportunity to commune with Him and to receive strength to carry on. We need to place our difficulties in the Lord’s hands and let His love, strength, peace, and comfort pour into us so that we can fulfill the beautiful Bible verse that says: “Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Corinthians 1:4–5).

I recently had the opportunity to respond to the heart cry of someone who the Lord has called to minister to some extremely traumatized people who desperately need hope, kindness, and compassion. I wrote the following:

Thank you very much for sharing your heart with me. Though I’m not experiencing firsthand the unspeakable pain you are encountering, it still breaks my heart. I can imagine how hard it is not to question, “Why?! Why do these people have to suffer so greatly?! Why isn’t Jesus somehow delivering them from these circumstances?!”

We don’t have all the answers. We can only reply with compassion and by sharing their pain. Like the father you mentioned, who has lost his children in such a heartbreaking way, you can’t undo what has happened, but you can weep with them that weep. You can hold them and give them what comfort you can. The only hope for this world is the fact that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has promised to bring His children into another life where the wrongs will be made right.

When praying for you, I was reminded of how important communing daily with the Father was to Jesus. I believe that the suffering Jesus saw in so many lives broke His heart. It was essential that He looked to His Father for the strength, love, and resolve He needed to keep going for the sake of those who He came to save. He also knew that His example of looking to His Father would be a clear reminder to us, His followers, to do the same.

I would imagine that in your situation it’s difficult to get time alone with Jesus, but that’s what you need to make time for as much as you can. You can’t carry that burden on your own shoulders or in your own mind and heart, but Jesus can. He will provide the supernatural strength and compassion you need. He will enable you, through His Spirit, to weep with those who weep. He will also help you to find the determination, courage, and faith to lift up to God those who are suffering such things. He can help them to find His love, even in the midst of suffering and evil.

He has given you the heart of a lion and the tenderness of a shepherd. I know that it brings you terrible pain to see such suffering, but through this, you are a beacon of hope and a place of refuge for many who would otherwise have no light. As one of the Lord’s representatives, you can bring hope to the hopeless.

As you mentioned, the troubles of this world seem to be intensifying, and because we’re called to be a light in this darkness, we must keep replenishing our own supplies of the oil of His Spirit so we can help light the way for others. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, and we must keep turning to Him to replenish our oil. Otherwise, we just won’t be able to do the job, and we’ll burn out and risk succumbing to hopelessness, despair, or bitterness over such terrible experiences.

Our desire for you and for your team and any others who face devastating pain and suffering is that you will be able to find that time to commune with Jesus. We can’t “fix” this world in this present time, but we know the final solution will come when Jesus comes back to reclaim this world! Then your heart that has been broken for so many will carry the compassion and love that will enable you to rule and reign with Jesus in the way He wants you to.

Knowing these things doesn’t take away the pain we feel at this moment, but it can help us to have the vision for the days that we know are coming. In the darkest times, it’s all the more important to hold on to Jesus, who can motivate us to reflect His Spirit to others. Keep your wick immersed in the oil of His Spirit, keep it cleaned and trimmed, so that it can burn brightly and clearly. He is counting on you to be His light for those who need the truth.

Especially in such terrible circumstances, I know the Lord is there with you. Even though those children you told us about died in the fire, I believe that, in God’s mercy, they never felt the flames. I believe that Jesus’ arms were around them, shielding them from pain and carrying them safely to where such things will never come close to them again.

The horrors that so many have perpetrated in this world are drawing to a close soon. Evil and rebellion against God have brought terrible things into this world for millennia, but the darkness will be destroyed by the light of God, and at last, all will be made right.

With love, admiration, prayers, and tremendous thankfulness for you and all of your team!

* * *

And for each of you who face times of sorrow, suffering, and tragedy, I know that Jesus is close by your side, waiting to lift and comfort you, and to bring you His peace that passes understanding, as you look to Him.

Originally published April 2023. Adapted and republished June 2026. Read by Debra Lee.

Copyright © 2026 The Family International

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Salmo 127 - Si el Señor no edifica la casa

Salmo 127: Un cántico para Salomón

Por Dennis Edwards

Este salmo se atribuye a David o a Salomón. Algunos creen que David le transmite un mensaje a Salomón, a quien le ordena construir la casa de Dios. Otros, al ver la similitud entre las ideas del salmo y el Eclesiastés de Salomón, lo atribuyen a Salomón. Nos inclinamos por la primera opción: que David le escribió a Salomón.

Salmo 127:1 Si el Señor no edifica la casa, en vano trabajan los que la edifican; si el Señor no guarda la ciudad, en vano vela el centinela.

En todo lo que construimos en nuestra vida, a menos que el Señor esté presente, a menos que lo reconozcamos en todos nuestros caminos, a menos que lo busquemos primero, nuestro trabajo es en vano. Jesús nos dio la parábola del hombre sabio y el insensato.

Mateo 7:24-25: «Por tanto, cualquiera que oye estas palabras mías y las pone en práctica, será semejante a un hombre prudente que edificó su casa sobre la roca. Cayó la lluvia, vinieron los torrentes, soplaron los vientos y golpearon contra aquella casa; pero no cayó, porque estaba fundada sobre la roca».

Jesús es la roca que los constructores, los líderes políticos y religiosos judíos, rechazaron. Si edificamos nuestras vidas sobre la obediencia a sus palabras, sin importar los vientos y las lluvias que el enemigo envíe contra nosotros, nuestra casa permanecerá firme.

Como dice la vieja canción: «Sobre Cristo, la roca firme, estoy. Todo otro fundamento es arena movediza». La parábola de Jesús continúa.

Mateo 7:26-27: «Todo aquel que oye estas palabras mías y no las pone en práctica, será semejante a un hombre insensato que edificó su casa sobre la arena. Cayó la lluvia, vinieron los torrentes, soplaron los vientos y golpearon contra aquella casa; y cayó, y grande fue su ruina».

No podemos edificar nuestra casa con nuestras propias fuerzas. «No con ejército, ni con fuerza, sino con mi Espíritu, dice Jehová», Zacarías 4:6. Jesús dijo: «Sin mí no podéis hacer nada», Juan 15:5b.

El apóstol Pablo nos dice que el único fundamento sobre el que debemos edificar nuestras vidas es Jesús. Él escribió:

«Porque nadie puede poner otro fundamento que el que ya está puesto, el cual es Jesucristo. Ahora bien, si alguno edifica sobre este fundamento con oro, plata, piedras preciosas, madera, heno o hojarasca, la obra de cada uno se hará manifiesta; porque el día la revelará, pues será revelada por fuego; y el fuego probará la obra de cada uno de qué clase es. Si la obra de alguno permanece, la que ha edificado sobre este fundamento, recibirá recompensa. Si la obra de alguno se quema, sufrirá pérdida; pero él mismo será salvo, aunque por fuego». (1 Corintios 3:11-15).

Parece que Dios va a probar nuestras obras, para ver si fueron hechas realmente para Él o para nosotros mismos, para nuestra propia gloria y satisfacción. Si nuestras obras no se hacen con amor y se edifican sobre la verdad, o si no se edifican con misericordia y verdad, no permanecerán.

En Habacuc 2:12 leemos: «¡Ay de aquel que edifica una ciudad con sangre, y funda una ciudad con maldad!». En nuestras propias familias, si usamos la fuerza y ​​amenazamos para someter a nuestros hijos, en el momento en que se liberen de nuestra autoridad, abandonarán el sistema de creencias que intentamos inculcarles. Usamos métodos autoritarios en lugar de amor y persuasión amable. Corrigimos a nuestros hijos para nuestro propio placer y beneficio, para quedar bien ante los demás. Como resultado de nuestros métodos injustos e impíos, pueden apartarse del Señor.

Salmo 127:2: «En vano madrugáis, y os acostáis tarde, y coméis pan de aflicción; pues a sus amados da Dios el sueño».

Es el orgullo lo que nos lleva a trabajar con nuestras propias fuerzas para salvarnos. Dios no quiere que estemos sobrecargados de trabajo y cargados. Él quiere que nos acerquemos a Él y Él nos dará el descanso que necesitamos. Necesitamos suficiente descanso para dar lo mejor de nosotros. Necesitamos tomar su yugo sobre nosotros y aprender de su mansedumbre y gentileza. «Porque su yugo es fácil y su carga ligera», Mateo 11:30.

Cuando enfrentamos las pruebas más difíciles de la vida, si confiamos solo en nuestro propio poder y fuerza, no lo lograremos. Como escribió Martín Lutero: «Si confiáramos en nuestras propias fuerzas, nuestro esfuerzo sería en vano, si no estuviera de nuestro lado el hombre indicado, el elegido por Dios». Podemos hacer todas las cosas mediante Cristo que nos fortalecen, pero necesitamos acudir a Él. En Isaías encontramos la misma advertencia y exhortación.

Isaías 30:15: «Porque así dice el Señor Dios, el Santo de Israel: En el arrepentimiento y el reposo seréis salvos; en la quietud y la confianza estará vuestra fuerza; pero no quisisteis».

El autor de Hebreos escribe: «Esforcémonos, pues, por entrar en ese reposo, para que nadie caiga en el mismo ejemplo de incredulidad», Hebreos 4:11. Dios nos invita a regresar a la comunión con Él, a refugiarnos en sus brazos para encontrar el descanso físico y espiritual que necesitamos. Es en esos momentos de quietud, descanso, oración y meditación en la Palabra de Dios donde hallaremos la fuerza necesaria para seguir adelante.

Isaías 40:29-31: «Él da fuerzas al cansado y multiplica las fuerzas del que no tiene ninguna. Aun los jóvenes se cansarán y se fatigarán, y los muchachos caerán rendidos. Pero los que esperan en el Señor renovarán sus fuerzas; levantarán alas como las águilas; correrán y no se cansarán; caminarán y no se fatigarán.

Debemos esperar. Debemos acudir a Él en oración y súplica con acción de gracias, y Él infundirá su paz en nuestros corazones y mentes, capacitándonos para avanzar en su Espíritu y poder hacia la victoria.

Salmo 127:3: «He aquí, los hijos son herencia del Señor; el fruto del vientre es su recompensa».

Los hijos que traemos a esta vida son nuestra recompensa. Son una herencia que recibimos del Señor. No desperdiciemos esa herencia. El apóstol Pablo nos advierte:

Efesios 6:4: «Y vosotros, padres, no irritéis a vuestros hijos, sino criadlos en la disciplina e instrucción del Señor».

En Colosenses 3:21 leemos: «Padres, no irriten a sus hijos, para que no se desanimen».

Dios quiere que los padres seamos padres protectores y que llevemos a nuestros hijos en nuestro seno. En otras palabras, quiere que seamos amables con ellos, como lo sería su madre. No quiere que los gobiernemos con fuerza y ​​crueldad, sino con misericordia y verdad. Dependiendo de cómo los eduquemos, decidiremos si rechazan o aceptan al Señor. Si somos hipócritas y crueles, los llevaremos a la incredulidad en su rebeldía contra nosotros.

Jesús advirtió: «Mejor le sería que le ataran al cuello una piedra de molino y lo arrojaran al mar, que hacer tropezar a uno de estos pequeños» (Lucas 17:2). En Mateo 18:6 encontramos la misma advertencia: «Pero al que haga tropezar a uno de estos pequeños que cree en mí, mejor le sería que le ataran al cuello una piedra de molino y lo ahogaran en lo profundo del mar».

Salmo 127:4-5 Como flechas en la mano del valiente, así son los hijos de la juventud. Dichoso el hombre que tiene su aljaba llena de ellos; no serán avergonzados, sino que hablarán con los enemigos en la puerta de la ciudad.

Sin embargo, si los criamos con gracia y verdad, puede que se aparten del Señor por un tiempo de prueba, pero, como el hijo pródigo, volverán. ¿Por qué? Porque saben que su padre los ama. Padres, amen a sus esposas e hijos. Si lo hacen, ellos los defenderán y lucharán por ustedes en el momento de necesidad.

¿Por qué vemos a menudo a abuelos y nietos tan unidos? ¿Será que los abuelos se han dado cuenta de que su crianza de sus propios hijos dejó mucho que desear? ¿Será que el abuelo quiere ser mejor con su nieto de lo que fue con su propio hijo? Quiere compensar lo que le faltó con sus hijos e hijas. Nunca es tarde para aprender una lección muy necesaria. Nunca es tarde para aprender a amar.

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