Senseless

Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones? (Psalms 94:8 NASA)

On August 14, 2010 eight innocent people were shot in Buffalo, NY and there were four fatalities. It was a senseless random killing; and this world for the longest has been involved in what can be considered senseless, murderous acts. The word senseless is often defined as a lack of appreciation. Senseless behavior is exhibited when people don't value or appreciate one another, and life and dignity are of no worth.

This lack of appreciation was demonstrated in antiquity and it led the psalmist to ask  "...You senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?"(Psalms 94:8 NIV) This question is intriguing because it seems to suggest that senseless people can come to their 'senses' and behave with a spirit of cooperation, community and collaboration. They can control their actions and behavior and not act like fools. This takes away the argument that they "can't help themselves."

Senseless people don't have any excuse for behaving antithetically and cruelly to the people they harm or violate. Could it be as simple as senseless people are just selfish, and the only needs, wants and desires that matter to them are their own? Now, of course, there may be some cases of senseless activity that can't be so easily simplified. But, perhaps, most of these heinous, senseless expressions are committed by what biblical translators call fools or idiots (see Psalm 94 MSG, NLT).

Senseless conduct and foolishness was despised by the psalmist. The writer gave a warning to the people who were being idiotic - take heed. "GOD will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people. Rest assured that justice is on its way and every good heart put right." (Psalms 94:14,15 MSG) God will avenge the senselessness committed against God's people." Well, think again, you idiots, fools--how long before you get smart? Do you think Ear-Maker doesn't hear, Eye-Shaper doesn't see? Do you think the trainer of nations doesn't correct, the teacher of Adam doesn't know? GOD knows, all right -- knows your stupidity, sees your shallowness."(Psalms 94:8-11 MSG). The work of evil will not prevail and God will do right by the righteous.

Until then the righteous or those who want to do right, must pray and practice appreciation. We must first appreciate that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and then we must realize that everyone else is too (see Psalms 139). If we value ourselves, then it is a good chance we will respect and honor others. We must not count anyone or anything as disposable. Our consciousness and consideration must be greater than the slave traders who had no appreciation for Africans; we must be greater than the Nazis who eradicated millions of Jews; we must be greater than any form of hatred toward another person, race, culture, gender or religion. We must be paradigms for the spirit of kindness and consideration. We must see everyone as our neighbor; then we can love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Matt 22:39).

The songwriter is right:

It's that
Love's in need of love today
Don't delay
Send yours in right away
Hate's goin' round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it's gone too far

So, let's be appreciative of one another and calm down some of this insanity and lunacy. We can't keep hearing heartbroken fathers like Raymond Wilhite talk about his slain daughter, Tiffany Wilhite, 32 years old, of Buffalo,NY: she was part of ' "a SENSELESS, random killing."

Prayer: Lord you have shown us appreciation with your sacrificial love on Calvary; help us to love and appreciate each other. If we practice gratitude for you and our neighbors, then we may see a decrease in senselessness. In Jesus’ Name Amen

God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner