This Psalm is dedicated to the eternal vigilance of God, who is always keeping up with the latest trends in religious and political fashion. The God who comes out of Israel as a fiery storm and a revered icon of order is the same God who blesses His chosen people and curses the wicked. With your words, you hurt others and trap them in a web of hurt. 20 You constantly curse your brother, and you curse your mother's son." These fierce opponents are known for their brutality and unyielding nature. In this difficult situation, the wicked are part of God's people who are struggling within the nation of Israel. These wicked people are taking advantage of the sacrifices of God in order to placate God. The Psalms remind us that we can never earn God's favor or make ourselves acceptable to Him. We believe that God has arranged a special deal as the basis of our salvation. The agreement of God's grace is one-sided, for His favor is without condition. The Lord is always there to help those who rely on Him. "Sacrifice thanks offerings to God, keep your promises to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble. I will carry you and you will respect me." I can't help but think the Psalmist is mocking those who offer sacrifices to God, believing that such offerings will please him. The Psalmist trusts that even though God doesn't need anything from us, we would be grateful for anything He provides. He knew the word "sacrifice" and used it in a reasonable argument to show that self righteous people usually focus on the insignificant things in their attempts to be adequate to God. He assumes that if you are only focused on the physical aspects of the sacrifice, you are ignoring the spiritual aspects. This is more significant than the ritual itself. You can add traditional exercise to your exercise routine by being grateful for the opportunity to get fit. God is confirming here that He is responsible for freeing Israel both politically and religiously. You will invariably find this individual battle between the principles of sola scriptura and simply assuming something or someone in the sacred place of God has always been present since the humble beginning of time. This Psalm teaches us how steadfast we can be when we are saved by God. The gospel teaches us about God's character and how we can rely on him for salvation. The One who is intimately familiar with His people knows their every need and desires. He arrives as an Israeli soldier, witnessing their valiant battles. He is content with the religious things that make up a large part of his life, and he is not in need of anything. These lifeless things lack the vitality and vibrancy needed to truly express life. God is not obligated to appease us in order to deliver His people. God often requires a true appreciation of Him in order to receive the benefits of His work. Rather than wasting our time doing productive work in an effort to show our gratitude to God, we should devote our time to being faithful worshippers and feel His Presence deeply. Whenever I need help in tough times, I know that God is always there to help me. Whenever I go through difficult times, I know that God is with me, because He allowed Himself to be humiliated on my behalf so that I could overcome. This is why the Psalmist praises people who can find beauty in the good things in life. This evidence is clear proof that the people God has chosen understand the one-sided covenant He has made with them. The wicked turn grace upside down, using people and ethical actions to try and make them adequate to God. They treat grace with disdain, trying to add to God's disregard by boasting about their own arrogance. If I am asked to help, I will provide what you need. You must always be prepared to offer what you ask from God. This expression is important because it accurately summarizes a complex issue. We allow religious things and self righteous people to wield too much power, which ultimately leads to the destruction of the protected authorization in the glorious gospel. We bring the gospel of glory down to earth, so that people can merely control God. This is why God carefully teaches us that He has the power to choose who will be saved and who will be lost in the eternal future. He is the one who watches over Israel and generously provides them with what they need to thrive. He always takes the necessary steps to help Israel flourish and prosper, always generously providing what they need to be successful. The gospel can be a freeing gift that challenges our strong sense of what we're owed, or it can be a heavy burden that slowly destroys us. Grace is not something we can simply try to use in our own selfish interest