Psalm 10:13 Why has the wicked spurned and shown disrespect to God? He has said to himself, “You will not require me to account.”

If you are not familiar with this Word of the Lord it may be because the translation is from the Amplified Bible.

We tend to bring the Word to others in the positive tense, which in translations avoids the negative sense. People are more apt to accept positivity than negativity, that is just human nature.

At this moment I am reminded of that scene in A Few Good Men where Jack begins that outpouring of human nature with those famous words “Truth, you can’t handle the truth.”

The problem is that truth in human nature has little if any reflection of what is right. Just to show just how translations can influence perception of truth allow me to present yet another version of Psalm 10:13 ESV Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?

The condition of the heart determines respect, not the words of one’s mouth or the actions we take.

Psalm 41:6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

We can lie to ourselves but God knows the truth. If we are His and we lie to ourselves God will correct us if we are ready to “handle the truth”. The Great Physician holds to His version of the hippocratic oath, “do no harm”. The abounding grace of God knows best how and when to offer correction unlike the human mind afflicted with a history of conditioning by unhealthy influences.

Disrespect of others is not in and of itself disrespect to God. Oftentimes it is a matter of maturity. James warned believers about the taming of the tongue. He was writing to the children of God who were in various stages of maturity. An immature child of God is still a child of God.

If respect of God is a matter of the heart and God is changing our heart, then the issue now becomes a matter of maturing in a manner controlled by God and not self-will. Listen to the Word and learn about the process of maturity.

Jeremiah 17:8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Ephesians 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

• Deuteronomy 9:4
  “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.
• Deuteronomy 9:5
  Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
• Deuteronomy 17:20
  that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Where we are today began so long ago that those involved have denied the origins of this current battle. Sin that acts out is called wickedness. Righteousness is not defined by obedience to a command. That is where many fail in their conscience. 

Genesis 4:7a If you do well, will you not be accepted?

Righteousness is founded in acceptance. It is a right standing before God the Father.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Righteousness is not a performance issue, it is a faith issue. We have a right standing with God the Father because we placed our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

In this present battle we have two sides that declare they are right. Who is right? God the Father. God the Father stands on His Word, His promises, and that has nothing to do with the actions of one side or the other.

The world seeks a political answer to a spiritual problem. God is no respecter of persons.

Acts 10:34-35 English Standard Version

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

It begins with a reverence for God. God will not tolerate disrespect.