December 16, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Psalm 31-40? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalm 35 (ESV)
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!...Continue Reading
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22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent!
O Lord, be not far from me!
If
Then
…..
Evidence
Faith
…..
Believe based on the past
Believe based on the future
Who of us doesn’t understand enemies and life crashing down on us? If we don’t, then we are probably not living the Christian life the way God intends. All who live a righteous life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). And when that happens, it is Psalms like these that remind us that God is our defender. See, if we are living by His means, oriented to His will and ways, and therefore people are hating us because they hated Him, of course God can be trusted to supply for us in the midst of that. It is so important to keep our eyes on Him and not on people or circumstances, because if we do, it will be very easy to take vengeance into our own hands, but remember vengeance is mine, says the Lord.
We need to turn to God like David here and call on Him to take care of our enemies so we don’t have to. I find this particularly helpful when I find myself when issue of injustice happens but I am not sure I am completely right or the person’s motivation wasn’t necessarily wrong. To be able to turn to a God who cares about justice and say God you be the judge over this, is a wonderful thing!
I think that’s why David can resolve the way he does in Psalm 35:28!
It’s interesting how we cling to Christ’s love and forgiveness. Even the world will throw Christ’s loving nature at us. When Christ returns he will implement justice. I think of those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake. Do they cling to Christ’s justice? In America, with our God-patterned justice system, we rarely (at least I don’t) ask for God’s justice upon our oppressors. That day will come.