Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked

 Psalm 140:1–13 (ESV):  

1  Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; 

preserve me from violent men, 

 2  who plan evil things in their heart 

and stir up wars continually. 

 3  They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, 

and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah 

 4  Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; 

preserve me from violent men, 

who have planned to trip up my feet. 

 5  The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, 

and with cords they have spread a net; 

beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah 

 6  I say to the Lord, You are my God; 

give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! 

 7  O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, 

you have covered my head in the day of battle. 

 8  Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; 

do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah 

 9  As for the head of those who surround me, 

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 

 10  Let burning coals fall upon them! 

Let them be cast into fire, 

into miry pits, no more to rise! 

 11  Let not the slanderer be established in the land; 

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! 

 12  I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, 

and will execute justice for the needy. 

 13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; 

the upright shall dwell in your presence. 

Evil people plan your demise. They may not seem wicked, in fact they may be friends walking right next to you, planning to trip you up, hiding traps, snares and nets for you to get entangled in. For how can someone you don’t know be so well acquainted with your paths and ways? Some of the people you are living life with may turn out to be arrogant, violent and wicked. Yet do not concern yourself, or get worried or overwhelmed by this. For you have The Lord your God on your side. Look at David, Isaiah, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus and Stephen as examples - they were well known for being men of God. Through their lives they suffered and were persecuted, often by people they knew. Yet that did not stop them! Instead of giving into fear and turning away from what God had called them to, they turned to God in their discomfort and desperation. 

In this psalm David recounts his concerns about the ways the wicked are trying to get him. He calls out to God saying, ‘You are my God….my Lord, the strength of my salvation….Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked’. When you see wickedness, when you hear of the plots of evil and see unholiness, recognise it for what it is, do not be afraid to name it and appeal to God to stop it. Righteousness and wickedness hate each other. This means men and women will battle against the will of God, even unknowingly, because it causes them discomfort in their wicked ways, and so they seek to end it. When you see this, do as David did and implore God to not let evil prevail. Then remember that He is ‘the strength of my salvation’. You can depend upon God to bring salvation to His people, to end evil and to be your strength. You will suffer, yet, you can also be assured that God has a purpose and salvation in mind through what is happening.

Followed by David’s outpouring of fury and pain, he concludes his prayer in confidence saying ‘Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name’ because God ‘will execute justice’. When you know who God is and what His character is like, you can rest in confidence even when surrounded by enemies, persecuted, trapped and hunted. In the end, God’s people will have reason to worship as God ‘will execute justice’. There will be nothing anyone can do about it, God will not be held back, He WILL have His way. So you can be confident that anything and anyone that comes against Him will be dealt with. So, bring your concerns and fears to God, your emotional response to whatever is going on, and remember just who God is. learn to depend upon His mercy, strength and judgement. Be sure to acknowledge that God is in charge even when wickedness seems to be winning. God is your salvation, your hope, the bringer of justice, He will ‘maintain the cause of the afflicted’, and He will prove, once again, that He is worthy of praise. The day will come when the suffering stops, evil exists no more, and wickedness wanes. You can guarantee that because God reigns. 

The Lord is righteous!

Psalm 129:1–8 (ESV):  

1  “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, 

yet they have not prevailed against me. 

 3  The plowers plowed upon my back; 

they made long their furrows.” 

 4  The Lord is righteous; 

he has cut the cords of the wicked. 

 5  May all who hate Zion 

be put to shame and turned backward! 

 6  Let them be like the grass on the housetops, 

which withers before it grows up, 

 7  with which the reaper does not fill his hand 

nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 

 8  nor do those who pass by say, 

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you! 

We bless you in the name of the Lord!” 

It is not unusual for the people of God to suffer. Israel, even from the conception of the nation can rightly say, ‘Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth’. Israel has always had enemies. As the favoured people of God, ungodly people have railed against them. Consider all that this nation has gone through. They have wandered, been to war, exiled more than once, been ransacked, derided, and invaded. They have known what it is like to be; refugees and captives, winners and losers, in the favour, and displeasure of God. So they are right to say that through every generation, they have been greatly afflicted. Even to the point that, ‘the plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows’. What a piece of imagery of the pain and persecution that Israel have undergone. Even though they have experienced this level of intense suffering from the hands of enemies, Israel can say ‘they have not prevailed against me’. That is powerful. The whole nation of Israel can honestly say that they have been persecuted and experienced excruciating physical, spiritual and emotional pain, yet the enemy has never won. Why? Because ‘The Lord is righteous’! 

The people of God once only the people of Israel, now known as the church, will experience great suffering, pain and persecution. Nothing has changed, the people of God have ungodly enemies so they will suffer. Yet they can also say, although we have been greatly afflicted the enemy has not and will not prevail! Why? Because the Lord is still righteous! 

The survival of God’s people and their growth has very little to do with the people themselves. It has everything to do with the favour and righteousness of God. God will always do what is right and ‘he has cut the cords of the wicked’. Evil has no ultimate power as Jesus put sin to death, therefore ‘the cords of the wicked’ have been severed. There is an end to the pain and suffering for God’s people,  so you can carry the hope of the promise that all wickedness shall cease, because ‘The Lord is righteous’. He will make sure that good will reign. 

The evil that seeks to undo the people of God will wither like grass on the rooftop (v6). It has no real influence, power, or longevity, even when evil plows deep furrows into your back in an attempt to break you. The enemy is seeking to prevail, but He has already been cut off and is withering! The people of God throughout all history have been persecuted, yet the enemy has not yet prevailed! Instead, the church has spread far and wide and the gospel has been demonstrated and declared in many places across the globe. The people of God have increased, not decreased despite the plans of the wicked, why? Because ‘The Lord is righteous’!

Praying for revenge

 Psalm 109:1–31 (ESV): 

Be not silent, O God of my praise! 

 2  For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, 

speaking against me with lying tongues. 

 3  They encircle me with words of hate, 

and attack me without cause. 

 4  In return for my love they accuse me, 

but I give myself to prayer. 

 5  So they reward me evil for good, 

and hatred for my love. 

 6  Appoint a wicked man against him; 

let an accuser stand at his right hand. 

 7  When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; 

let his prayer be counted as sin! 

 8  May his days be few; 

may another take his office! 

 9  May his children be fatherless 

and his wife a widow! 

 10  May his children wander about and beg, 

seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! 

 11  May the creditor seize all that he has; 

may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! 

 12  Let there be none to extend kindness to him, 

nor any to pity his fatherless children! 

 13  May his posterity be cut off; 

may his name be blotted out in the second generation! 

 14  May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, 

and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! 

 15  Let them be before the Lord continually, 

that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth! 

 16  For he did not remember to show kindness, 

but pursued the poor and needy 

and the brokenhearted, to put them to death. 

 17  He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! 

He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! 

 18  He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; 

may it soak into his body like water, 

like oil into his bones! 

 19  May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, 

like a belt that he puts on every day! 

 20  May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, 

of those who speak evil against my life! 

 21  But you, O God my Lord, 

deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; 

because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! 

 22  For I am poor and needy, 

and my heart is stricken within me. 

 23  I am gone like a shadow at evening; 

I am shaken off like a locust. 

 24  My knees are weak through fasting; 

my body has become gaunt, with no fat. 

 25  I am an object of scorn to my accusers; 

when they see me, they wag their heads. 

 26  Help me, O Lord my God! 

Save me according to your steadfast love! 

 27  Let them know that this is your hand; 

you, O Lord, have done it! 

 28  Let them curse, but you will bless! 

They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! 

 29  May my accusers be clothed with dishonour; 

may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! 

 30  With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; 

I will praise him in the midst of the throng. 

 31  For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, 

to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. 

As you read this psalm, you see that David does not hold back. He tells God exactly what he thinks should happen to those who are ‘wicked and deceitful’! He wants them to; be accused and found guilty, lose their job and influence, others to benefit from his work but not him, even that they should die and their children become poor, for generational sin to be counted against them, and for their name to be obliterated from memory! You can easily hear the anger and frustration of David as he lets God know exactly what he thinks of these people and their spiteful actions! Yet David did not act, for if he took vengeance, this would be what it looked like, and he might not know where to stop. At what point would he be then acting in a similar vane to how these people had treated him? So instead of making his own plans for retribution, David approaches God. He did not take revenge or try to argue with those speaking against him. Instead, he did the harder thing of showing great restraint and leaving it in God's hands. 

You too can bring all your fears, frustrations and emotions to God. David determined that the best revenge he could get, and the best output for these destructive thoughts and emotions was to ‘give myself to prayer’. This is the most powerful thing you can do when you feel beaten down, unfairly accused or treated, give yourself to prayer. Don't hold anything back in outpouring to God, David doesn't and you don't need to either - look at what he says! Many of us would be afraid to speak such harshness over anyone, even those who have become enemies. Yet expressing this to God (not to others) is a safe outlet for He alone knows your heart and your pain. He alone knows how best to deal with you and the others involved, so you can trust Him to do what is needed and appropriate. David was wise in this, He went to the only One who will not just react emotionally, but to the One who sees the long view. David knew that God cares for him, is just, powerful and righteous. Therefore He is the best person to deal with injustice, oppression and harm. David trusts that God will do something about this person/people, ‘because your steadfast love is good’. God loves and supports His people. Plus He probably already has a solution and plan worked out, so why get in the way of God sorting the situation out?

David held back his response, choosing to give himself in prayer instead of giving himself to revenge. Is this your response? 

David knew that God can respond in the right way and shut the mouths of his accusers one way or another. If David did it, he might cause more of a mess, so instead he entrusts the outcome to God. David is so convinced of God’s love and response that he ends this petition with praise. Once David has got all then anger and angst of his chest and given it all over to God, he praises Him. God hasn't even responded yet David worships! What a way to end an outpouring of wrath and frustration! To remember who you are talking to, and remember to be grateful for who God is, and the fact that He listens and loves you. Once you have handed over your situation and the people to God in prayer, you too can rejoice that God is going to act in response to the prayer of His beloved child. The outcome may not be imminent, and it may not be what you expect, but you can be assured that God will deal with whatever you bring to Him.

What do you do when wickedness seems to be winning?

Psalm 94:1–23 (ESV): 

O Lord, God of vengeance, 

O God of vengeance, shine forth! 

 2  Rise up, O judge of the earth; 

repay to the proud what they deserve! 

 3  O Lord, how long shall the wicked, 

how long shall the wicked exult? 

 4  They pour out their arrogant words; 

all the evildoers boast. 

 5  They crush your people, O Lord, 

and afflict your heritage. 

 6  They kill the widow and the sojourner, 

and murder the fatherless; 

 7  and they say, “The Lord does not see; 

the God of Jacob does not perceive.” 

 8  Understand, O dullest of the people! 

Fools, when will you be wise? 

 9  He who planted the ear, does he not hear? 

  He who formed the eye, does he not see? 

 10  He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? 

  He who teaches man knowledge— 

 11  the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, 

that they are but a breath. 

 12  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, 

and whom you teach out of your law, 

 13  to give him rest from days of trouble, 

until a pit is dug for the wicked. 

 14  For the Lord will not forsake his people; 

he will not abandon his heritage; 

 15  for justice will return to the righteous, 

and all the upright in heart will follow it. 

 16  Who rises up for me against the wicked? 

Who stands up for me against evildoers? 

 17  If the Lord had not been my help, 

my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 

 18  When I thought, “My foot slips,” 

your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 

 19  When the cares of my heart are many, 

your consolations cheer my soul. 

 20  Can wicked rulers be allied with you, 

those who frame injustice by statute? 

 21  They band together against the life of the righteous 

and condemn the innocent to death. 

 22  But the Lord has become my stronghold, 

and my God the rock of my refuge. 

 23  He will bring back on them their iniquity 

and wipe them out for their wickedness; 

the Lord our God will wipe them out. 

Do you ever ask God to destroy the wicked? You can, it is allowed. Many of the psalms ask for God to destroy the proud, the wicked, end evildoers. Not for no reason though, nor just for their own relief, but so that God’s people and His kingdom benefit. The psalmists are concerned not only with their own situation, but also for God’s reputation and the welfare of His people. So when you pray for evil to end - what is your reason? Is it just so that things are better for you? If you pray for evil to end because you wish to stop suffering that is too narrow-minded. God’s vision is beyond your own life and circumstances, His vision is wider and further, and so should yours be.

Instead of just asking God for vengeance or judgement on a person or situation because they bother you, let God hear your concern for the widespread problems of wickedness. The oppression of those God cares about like the widows, strangers, fatherless, His people. Tell God what you see and why it is not ok. Sure, tell Him your experience too and how tough it has been on you, but don’t limit your vision of what God can do. He can work on a much bigger scale than you expect, He has the future of a whole kingdom that He is concerned about.

If you are oppressed by wickedness in the workplace, then consider who else is affected. Petition God for them too, ask Him to see and hear and make Himself known in the whole of the workplace, for His kingdom to come there - imagine how many people would be impacted by the love, mercy and justice of God then! The same is true for any area of life you are seeing evil influence. Whether it be in your family, community, country, friendship group or neighbourhood. Pray and rely on God for the solution. 

In times when wickedness seems to reign there is often little that you can do to change the circumstances. You do not have to fix it. Often you cannot as it is a spiritual battle. So the most powerful weapons are prayer, dependence on God and love. You do not need to be the one that is trying to resolve things in your own strength, plotting and scheming the downfall of the wicked or digging the pit for the evildoers to fall into. Let God lead. ‘For justice will return to the righteous and all the upright in heart will follow it’. God is responsible for justice, you are responsible for remaining 'upright'. So make sure you are doing your part. Pray and pursue righteousness in the way you are living your life, even when you are encountering trouble and wickedness. Otherwise when God comes to judge wickedness, will He need to pour out His judgement on you too? 

When you feel overwhelmed, upset or angry, allow the thoughts of who God is for eternity comfort your soul, ‘When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.’ Consider God when you are afraid, worried, concerned, when you are facing a battle or seeing persecution. Approach God, and allow the truth of who He is and what He is capable of bring you comfort. Remember what God has said, and allow His words cheer you up. For His Word is everlasting and always true. Allow Him to take care of your heart, and trust Him with the hearts of those around you. Difficulties are an opportunity for your faith to be displayed. This involves being less dependent on yourself, less swayed by emotions and more invested in your relationship with God. He can become your stronghold and rock of refuge (v22), whilst also cheering your soul and taking care of your heart (v19). God sees and hears it all and, ‘the Lord will not forsake his people’. Trust Him. Not just for your protection, salvation and comfort, but trust that, ‘the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.’

Keep praying, Keep believing. Keep being upright.

Stupid Thoughts

 Psalm 92:1–15 (ESV):  

1  It is good to give thanks to the Lord, 

to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 

 2  to declare your steadfast love in the morning, 

and your faithfulness by night, 

 3  to the music of the lute and the harp, 

to the melody of the lyre. 

 4  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; 

at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 

 5  How great are your works, O Lord! 

Your thoughts are very deep! 

 6  The stupid man cannot know; 

the fool cannot understand this: 

 7  that though the wicked sprout like grass 

and all evildoers flourish, 

  they are doomed to destruction forever; 

 8  but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 

 9  For behold, your enemies, O Lord, 

for behold, your enemies shall perish; 

all evildoers shall be scattered. 

 10  But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; 

you have poured over me fresh oil. 

 11  My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; 

my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 

 12  The righteous flourish like the palm tree 

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

 13  They are planted in the house of the Lord; 

they flourish in the courts of our God. 

 14  They still bear fruit in old age; 

they are ever full of sap and green, 

 15  to declare that the Lord is upright; 

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 

Do you have stupid thoughts? Do you ever believe that the wickedness in the world is going to prevail? If so, this is a stupid thought (v6-7). ‘Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish; they are doomed to destruction forever’! ‘But you, O Lord, are on high forever’. Notice how both of these verses talk about ‘forever’. There is an assurance for the wicked and for God for eternity. Both will last forever, but there is a difference in their eternal destiny.

God is inviting you to have a longer viewpoint. Instead of worrying about the evil that is around and what is going on in the here and now, consider what will be forever. The present is only relevant for this moment, tomorrow it is history. In the here and now evil exists and there are people that perform wicked deeds. Yet the promise for eternity is that God’s ‘enemies shall perish, all evildoers shall be scattered’ and ‘the righteous flourish like the palm tree’. This is the long view, this is what you should focus on. The things that are evil are, ‘doomed to destruction forever’. They have eternal death as their promise. So, ultimately they will not prevail, therefore do not waste time concerning yourself about such things. Instead consider God who is on high and will be forever. 

When you fix your eyes on God, give your life to Him and follow Him you will, ‘flourish like the palm tree’. That sentence at first confused me for i did not understand the sentiment. Then i considered and researched and discovered that palm trees can grow in difficult conditions. Surviving droughts, storms and floods because of their root system. In fact, in a storm even if they are bent over horizontally by high winds, looking deformed and destroyed, they straighten up afterwards and can grow stronger roots as a result. This makes the palm tree more stable after a storm than it was before it! So, think of yourself as that flourishing palm tree, ‘planted in the house of the Lord’. Storms may feel like they are destoying you, but you'll straighten up again, you will be upright and have deeper roots if you weather the storm ‘planted in the house of the Lord'. So rather than concerning yourself with the wickedness of the world, focus on living with God; being righteous, stable, growing strong and fruitful. Knowing that even in the troubles of life that knock you sideways, when you stick to God, you will become stronger and straighter in the long run. For God says you will ‘flourish’. You will not be destroyed when you depend on Him, instead you have the promise of fruitfulness and favour for eternity. 

Consider then what you allow your mind to dwell upon. Are your thoughts sometimes stupid? Do you allow worry to consume you or concern yourself with the news and wickedness? For, 'The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand'. If you insist on focussing on what is temporal rather than what is eternal, you will be stuck. Your progression will be limited as your view is too short, it is in the here and now and God is wanting you to play the long game. Think about someone who knows they have exams in a few months time. They could think that it's too far away to concern themselves with it today. Instead they eat, drink, have fun, go out, giving no thought to what is coming up as it is in the future. How are they going to fare in exam season? What about if they chose to revise now, to practice, look at exam papers, research and prepare for the day they know is coming. Although it may seem far off and other people are not doing the same kind of preparation, how would you expect their exams to go? How about you? Are you thinking about the long game of faith? Are your thoughts overrun by the knowledge that God exists and is righteous, good and on High, or do thoughts about the reign of evil darken your mind? Set your mind to consider the long game. You get to decide what you think about, so don't entertain stupid thoughts. Remind yourself that no matter what is going on now,  evil won’t last for it is ‘doomed to destruction forever', ' but you, O Lord, are on high forever'.

So set your mind to have the long view - evil loses and righteousness wins, forever. You will never understand God or His ways. He has greater insight and foresight than anyone because He sees the eternal perspective not only the present. He was there at the beginning, has been all the way through and will continue to be and He has known what He is doing all that time. He planned for there to be an Adam and Eve, Noah, Josiah, Hosea, Ruth, Isaiah and Jesus. He saw all they would face and the eternal impact of their obedience. He has the same knowledge and understanding for your life. Your life has impact beyond your years, so learn to trust in Him and follow Him even when life gets tough and confusing. God sees the storms as opportunities for you to be strengthened, your relationship with Him deepened and your life to display fruit. Keep your focus on Him, not on the storm. For God is good, He is intelligent, He has a plan and a purpose and sees the end goal. You do not. Therefore give up the stupid thoughts and lean into God and His understanding. The storms of life will then make you taller, straighter and stronger, forever.

God is near

 Psalm 75:1–10 (ESV):  

1  We give thanks to you, O God; 

we give thanks, for your name is near. 

We recount your wondrous deeds. 

2  “At the set time that I appoint 

I will judge with equity. 

3  When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, 

it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah 

4  I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ 

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 

5  do not lift up your horn on high, 

or speak with haughty neck.’ ” 

6  For not from the east or from the west 

and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 

7  but it is God who executes judgment, 

putting down one and lifting up another. 

8  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup 

with foaming wine, well mixed, 

and he pours out from it, 

and all the wicked of the earth 

shall drain it down to the dregs. 

9  But I will declare it forever; 

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 

10  All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, 

but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. 

What a great way to open a psalm, or even your prayers - to acknowledge and appreciate that God is near. You can utter His name and know His presence. What an incredible reassurance it is to recognise and appreciate God’s proximity. God is near. He is close to you right now, how wonderful! As you realise God’s closeness, can you like Asaph begin to recount God's 'wondrous deeds’? God has done some fantastic things, do you ever stop to consider them and appreciate Him for them? Recounting God’s fantastic works should be easy as there are so many but are you good at crediting God for the great and marvellous things He has done? Asaph says, ‘we recount your wondrous deeds’, there is a communal aspect to sharing what God has done (we). No matter how big or small the issue, do you share your stories of God’s magnificence in your life? Can you imagine the testimony that would be, not only to the church, but the community if we all did that? Surely you have a wonderful story of wonder to that tells about God's goodness - have you shared it with anyone recently?

God is worthy of gratitude no matter what. He has still done incredible things even when life is tough and, ‘the earth totters and all its inhabitants’. God is still just as close and magnificent in those times. Plus He is more solid, secure and trustworthy than those around you and even the solid ground that you stand on! For, ‘when the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars’. God is the strength and power that keeps things going and holds it all together. The Earth and your life will have times when it looks like they are shaky and falling apart, yet you can be assured that God is in control and will hold it all together. When the Earth shudders and disasters happen you can feel shaken, however you can also be sure that God is holding steady.

So, consider; what are you relying on in your life? What do you trust in and lean on to give you strength? It is only God that remains strong and secure throughout all circumstances and generations. He is the One who has already endured all things, do not build your life on or rely on anything lesser than Him. Those who live dishonouring God or in ignorance of His presence are living without His power, love, majesty and strength, are you?

Those who choose to live without God do not have Him holding things steady and do not get to enjoy His wondrous deeds or His glorious presence. Instead they are consumed with themselves and become arrogant, filled up with pride, boastful and drunk (v4-8). Living without God means living without stability, love and peace. So people try to live for something else and make themselves seem important. They try to outdo one another and be better because they are trying to impress themselves and other people. At times it works and they seem to be ‘lifted up’ having gained respect, honour and praise from people. Yet their favour can quickly change and those admired one moment can be despised the next. A life like that does not know stability, unconditional love or peace. Whose approval are you living for? Are you living to impress those around you, vying for acceptance, or are you living a life honouring God and concerned about what He thinks of you?

Not only will the ‘wicked’ who live without God become proud, boastful, resentful and intoxicated, but the promise in this psalm is that they will also be ‘cut off’. This is not without God trying to help them and intervene, verses 4-5 show that God calls to those disregarding Him and acting wickedly - He invites them to live different, but they refuse. One day it will be too late for them to do any different as God ‘executes judgement’. He promises that, ‘the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.’ All people will be judged, the wicked and the righteous (those that live following God). One set will be ‘lifted up’, the others ‘cut down’. Which fate will you receive? For God is close and He is worthy of great gratitude and love, are you living your life acknowledging and appreciating His presence in the World and your life?

My feet had almost stumbled....

 Psalm 73:1–28 (ESV): 

1  Truly God is good to Israel, 

to those who are pure in heart. 

2  But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, 

my steps had nearly slipped. 

3  For I was envious of the arrogant 

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

4  For they have no pangs until death; 

their bodies are fat and sleek. 

5  They are not in trouble as others are; 

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 

6  Therefore pride is their necklace; 

violence covers them as a garment. 

7  Their eyes swell out through fatness; 

their hearts overflow with follies. 

8  They scoff and speak with malice; 

loftily they threaten oppression. 

9  They set their mouths against the heavens, 

and their tongue struts through the earth. 

10  Therefore his people turn back to them, 

and find no fault in them. 

11  And they say, “How can God know? 

Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 

12  Behold, these are the wicked; 

always at ease, they increase in riches. 

13  All in vain have I kept my heart clean 

and washed my hands in innocence. 

14  For all the day long I have been stricken 

and rebuked every morning. 

15  If I had said, “I will speak thus,” 

I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 

16  But when I thought how to understand this, 

it seemed to me a wearisome task, 

17  until I went into the sanctuary of God; 

then I discerned their end. 

18  Truly you set them in slippery places; 

you make them fall to ruin. 

19  How they are destroyed in a moment, 

swept away utterly by terrors! 

20  Like a dream when one awakes, 

O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 

21  When my soul was embittered, 

when I was pricked in heart, 

22  I was brutish and ignorant; 

I was like a beast toward you. 

23  Nevertheless, I am continually with you; 

you hold my right hand. 

24  You guide me with your counsel, 

and afterward you will receive me to glory. 

25  Whom have I in heaven but you? 

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

26  My flesh and my heart may fail, 

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

27  For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; 

you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 

28  But for me it is good to be near God; 

I have made the Lord God my refuge, 

that I may tell of all your works. 

Ever felt jealous and envious of those who do not follow God? Maybe because they ‘are not stricken like the rest of mankind’ and do not live to good moral standards yet seem to prosper. They seem to do better, have more stuff, and they enjoy life in a way you do not. Asaph clearly felt like this, he was jealous of the worldly gains of the wicked when he compared his life to theirs he saw that his is hard, and theirs easy. When you live your life following God it can feel like there are restrictions upon you, rules that stop you having the same type of fun and entering into certain relationships. If you have noticed this and it has bothered you, don’t worry, Asaph the chief musician of Israel from the tribe of Levi - a key worship leader, felt the same! 

If you compare your God-following life with those who do not, you can feel like you can’t do certain things, have less, give more, don’t seem to be as ‘lucky’ and life is a struggle most of the time. You talk different, dress different and act different because you faithfully follow what God has to say about these things instead of following the culture. However you undergo internal and external pressure, difficulty and stress as a result. Asaph saw this and admits, ‘my feet had almost stumbled’. He felt really pressured and enticed by the life of those who were living disregarding God, as he saw that the ‘wicked’ people ‘are not stricken like the rest of mankind’. They can do what they like and not care about it, their lot seems easy and enjoyable. So he was intrigued and found their lifestyle inviting. Asaph, one who has written many worship songs and prayers through the book of Psalms, and was responsible for leading others to honour, love and worship God felt like this. This shows me that none of us are exempt from temptation, we all want to have a fun and easy life, don't you?

Have you ever been tempted to join the ranks of the wicked? We probably all are, and some do. They look at the contrast between the people who follow God and those who do not, and the christian life looks restrictive, boring and responsible, so leading life without God seems simpler, freer and exciting. It is no wonder that Asaph observes that, ‘his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know?”’ Have you noticed the same? Some people get fed up, and so when an attractive temptation comes along they convince themselves that it is not too bad, that “everyone is doing it” so it doesn’t really matter and, ‘How can God know?’ These people initially convince themselves that it is not so bad, and surely God wants them to have a good and easy life, maybe God won't even notice. Asaph admits that he, 'almost stumbled'.  He had begun to persuade himself that maybe there was a better life waiting for him outside of God's domain. Leading an ungodly life intrigued and enticed him as he saw that those who do not follow God are, ‘always at ease, they increase in riches.’ Asaph wondered, could he live his life like those others who do not follow God? For he has kept himself pure of heart and lived obeying God, leading worship, faithfully following and serving God’s people, but he does not have what these others do. Is that fair? (V13-14). His life is dutiful and God-honouring, but it is not always rewarding. In fact it can be boring and hard work at times.

Before Asaph gave up his faithful, obedient, God-honouring life, he spent some time considering this comparison he saw between the faithful and the wicked. He tried to get his head around it but he couldn’t, he says it wore him out (v16). It didn’t make sense to him and he got tired of trying to understand. So, what he did next was key. He didn’t just abandon the life he had been living following God to explore the alternative straight away, but he went to God (v17). 

The psalm does not say that he spoke to God about what was going on, but that he simply, ‘went into the sanctuary of God’. He met with God, placing himself in His presence. Even though at this time Asaph was feeling resentful, annoyed and hard done by, he still chose to be with God. Sometimes, just being in God’s presence, getting close to Him, spending time with him, with or without words or music, can cause things to make sense or to seem not that important any more. This is what Asaph found. Whilst in the presence of God, he had a revelation; ‘then I discerned their end’. Whilst in the presence of the Almighty, connecting with the creator and protector of life, Asaph has a realisation. He recognises that those who do not follow God, ‘are destroyed in a moment’. They may seemingly enjoy life and have much, but one day the life they have lived will end. The luxuries, fun, relationships and investment in earthly things will be; destroyed, broken apart, ruined. ‘For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you’ (V27). Is that the end you want to your life story? Asaph didn't!

So, no matter how enticing and enjoyable the present life of others looks, do not be tempted or distracted - they are heading for ruin. Instead, do as Asaph did and get into God’s presence. Spend time with Him. Then you will see the reality of a life lived away from Him. Do you want to take the risk of having a lifestyle that is seemingly good now, at the expense of the eternal peace, comfort and steadfast love that God gives? Is anything worth sacrificing that for? When you are tempted to live a different kind of life, to sin, to turn your back on faith, what is your response? Asaph, ‘went into the sanctuary of God’. He approached God, chose to get near to Him. He didn’t hide, run away or follow the wicked, but he went into the sanctuary - into God’s presence. Why not try that for yourself next time temptation comes - chose to get close to God and see what will be revealed to you. Asaph declares, ‘for me it is good to be near God’ and, 'there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you', what do you think?

the inward mind and heart of a man are deep

 Psalm 64:1–10 (ESV):  

1  Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; 

preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 

2  Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, 

from the throng of evildoers, 

3  who whet their tongues like swords, 

who aim bitter words like arrows, 

4  shooting from ambush at the blameless, 

shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 

5  They hold fast to their evil purpose; 

they talk of laying snares secretly, 

thinking, “Who can see them?” 

6  They search out injustice, 

saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” 

For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. 

7  But God shoots his arrow at them; 

they are wounded suddenly. 

8  They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; 

all who see them will wag their heads. 

9  Then all mankind fears; 

they tell what God has brought about 

and ponder what he has done. 

10  Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord 

and take refuge in him! 

Let all the upright in heart exult! 

Words can easily entangle and lead us down a path we never really intended on going down. This psalm can remind us how the words of deception, rumours and lies spread, and build into becoming swords, arrows and snares. The little quips and comments grow to transform people into enemies, this is what happened to David. It is bad enough having one person lying about you, saying horrible things and plotting against you, but David had a ‘throng of evildoers’ against him. How did that happen? These enemies and their schemes all started somewhere. There was one moment when something was done or said that has taken over and spiralled. One disagreement, angry word, disappointment, error, jealousy or miscommunication has led to people becoming disgruntled, conniving enemies. It may not even have been anything to do with what David has done or said. People can become our enemies for many reasons. Yet, just because someone is railing against you, doesn’t mean you should do the same. David recognised this. It is important, even when people are horrible to you, to deal with them well - To live above reproach. David did not; shout things back, sneak around after them, try to catch them out or even confront and fight them. He could have done - he was a powerful, mighty king! Even though he could have fought, and won, he did not take matters into his own hands. He could have permanently got rid of these troublesome, lying, deceitful, wicked plotters who attacked him. Instead, David preferred God's way. He talked to God about it and trusted in His eventual salvation, knowing that God’s way is better. David did not repay evil for evil, but he patiently waited for God to start shooting His arrows instead of shooting his own. For David knew that God would transform the situation and cause these enemies to be on the run and descend into ruin because they are attacking God’s man. God preserves and fights for those who love Him, so David was assured that he would not only be rescued by God from this situation, but that it would also be for the benefit other believers too. As they would see God come through and rejoice! (V10). What is your response when people behave like enemies towards you?

It is important as mentioned above, to ensure that you are living above reproach in every circumstance. To make sure that even if people treat you badly, you do not do the same to them. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:39, "I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”. Jesus' advice - Do not try to squash the behaviour of those acting badly, but let them do it! By that you are showing love and mercy like God does to us. Do not allow yourself to retaliate or become angry, for that is not godliness and you will just end up behaving the same way as those against you and become wicked yourself. Consider the disciples in the book of Acts, they undergo terrible treatment, but do not react in their own strength. They endure torture and imprisonment and glorify and trust in God through it. They did not retaliate, fight or argue back. Instead they imitated their saviour in their loving and merciful responses to those who became their enemies. They are great examples of living a painful, but dedicated life to God. They lived their life fully for Him and that meant they didn’t always behave in the way they wanted to. The disciples understood that Jesus had shown that the battle is not really theirs, that even the enemies are not fighting you, but the godliness that is within. They also realised that any argument or physical fight is not going to change the heart or mindset of the wicked. Only the love and mercy of God can do that. Do you allow this to be the case when you have enemies? Or do you roll your sleeves up ready for a fight?

David also gives us an insight in this psalm that people have many reasons for doing things as, ‘The inward mind and heart of a man are deep’. David has realised that all people have; fears, hurts, joys and hopes which combine to influence their behaviour. David recognises that there are many reasons why someone will act in a certain way because they are ‘deep’. Some get carried away, follow others, respond out of heartache, try to provide security - there are many explanations of why people behave as they do because we are complex creatures. Friends and enemies have reasons to be such, and predominantly it is not because of you. It is because of the deep things that are going on inside of them. The behaviour and decisions a person makes are often not due to one experience or one comment, but there are many thoughts, values and experiences that lead to it. Those who live righteously and those who live wickedly choose to do so as a result of the internal processing of many ideas, ideals, experiences and goals. The things that mould a person into who they become are many and complicated, and they impact how they treat others. 

When you are on the receiving end of poor behaviour or wickedness, it is easy to consider the person or people involved as wicked. Yet you do not know the inner depths of each person for, ‘The inward mind and heart of a man are deep’. You do not know that they have been through, or why they are acting as they are. Sometimes these people may even seem quite nice and honourable, as they may act wickedly towards you, but they also can seem righteous or good at times! (v5-6) People are complex creatures, we all are. We all have different motivations and reasons for being like we are. We can even seem nice to some and horrid to others. David has noticed how even those plotting evil diligently against him, ‘search out injustice’. Yet they themselves are unjust in their words and actions towards him. It is a conundrum, but not one that any of us can solve by worrying about it. Instead, David does the only thing he can - talks to God about it - the One who knows the innermost being of every man and woman, and he trusts Him to sort it out. David is certain God will bring about the right course of action, and he will wait for it. For now, until his rescue comes, David will take refuge in speaking with God, trusting in His protection, for the time will come when ‘God shoots his arrows’ at these evildoers, and the people of God will, ‘rejoice in the Lord’ for the victory God has brought about. So instead of preparing to fight, why not take guidance from David, who did not roll up his sleeves and prepare for a battle when people plotted against him, but talked to God, carried on his everyday life and waited and trusted in the love and mercy of God to bring salvation and reason for all of God's people to rejoice?

 

What do you do when you get fed up?

 Psalm 58:1–11 (ESV):  

1  Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? 

Do you judge the children of man uprightly? 

2  No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; 

your hands deal out violence on earth. 

3  The wicked are estranged from the womb; 

they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 

4  They have venom like the venom of a serpent, 

like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 

5  so that it does not hear the voice of charmers 

or of the cunning enchanter. 

6  O God, break the teeth in their mouths; 

tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! 

7  Let them vanish like water that runs away; 

when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. 

8  Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, 

like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. 

9  Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, 

whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! 

10  The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; 

he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. 

11  Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; 

surely there is a God who judges on earth.” 

Why are some people intent on evil and others intent on good? Where does right and wrong come from? Is there ultimate justice for the goodness and the badness in the world? These are a few of the question this psalm of David seems to be dealing with. At some point in our lives, we too consider the same things. Many people wonder why there is evil and suffering in the world, where does it come from? Why do some people have influence when their desires are harmful to others? It is good to consider these things, we can learn about life, ourselves and our own moral standards as we consider the big questions of life on Earth.

David was considering such things as he saw people grow from one form of injustice to another becoming venomous, cunning, deceitful and destructive. We can see from this writing that David is pretty fed up with seeing these people going around thinking they are ‘gods’, hurting the innocent and vulnerable. He got so incensed by the evil actions of 'the wicked' that he desires all these people to be violently punished as they seemed to go from one form of evil to another. Even though it seems like the rich and powerful, the corrupt and lying are those that have influence and power, one day God will, ‘break the teeth in their mouths’ - Their words will be futile, their attempts to cause harm will fail and they will ‘be like the snail that dissolves into slime’. These are David’s prayers for justice. He has seen enough of life, of good and evil to observe that the wicked seem to do well for themselves, and it has driven him to passionately pray for their destruction and obliteration. 

Are you fed up with some of the things you have observed in your community, country, family or government? If so, what are you doing about it? If you are moaning to other people, getting increasingly annoyed and bothered by the descent of the world into chaos and wickedness then how does that help? Turn your frustrations into prayers. 

Pray for God to break the evil in this world. He can; break teeth, tear out fangs, make things disappear, blunt, dissolve and put to death. You can know that when you see something that is unrighteous and evil, God doesn’t like it either. So, are you partnering with Him to see an end to it and trusting that one day you will be rejoicing when vengeance comes?! There is power in prayer. You can seek the end of the evil practices of this world plus you can vent your emotions and ask God for solutions. God will listen and those of this world can learn that For, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth’.

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle

 

Psalm 39:1–13 (ESV):  

1  I said, “I will guard my ways, 

that I may not sin with my tongue; 

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, 

so long as the wicked are in my presence.” 

2  I was mute and silent; 

I held my peace to no avail, 

and my distress grew worse. 

3  My heart became hot within me. 

As I mused, the fire burned; 

then I spoke with my tongue: 

4  “O Lord, make me know my end 

and what is the measure of my days; 

let me know how fleeting I am! 

5  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, 

and my lifetime is as nothing before you. 

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 

6  Surely a man goes about as a shadow! 

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; 

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! 

7  “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? 

My hope is in you. 

8  Deliver me from all my transgressions. 

Do not make me the scorn of the fool! 

9  I am mute; I do not open my mouth, 

for it is you who have done it. 

10  Remove your stroke from me; 

I am spent by the hostility of your hand. 

11  When you discipline a man 

with rebukes for sin, 

you consume like a moth what is dear to him; 

surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah 

12  “Hear my prayer, O Lord, 

and give ear to my cry; 

hold not your peace at my tears! 

For I am a sojourner with you, 

a guest, like all my fathers. 

13  Look away from me, that I may smile again, 

before I depart and am no more!” 

Clearly, David is experiencing another time of distress, and it is a time when he is adamant not to discuss his frustration with other people. So he is enforcing himself to be, 'mute and silent’. This is a powerful and tremendously difficult thing to do. The natural, and most common thing for people to do when they are unhappy and annoyed is to share their situation; moan, whinge, rant or cry. So David does something very unusual by vowing to be silent whilst the 'wicked' were within earshot. David was suffering as he was pondering life. He seems to have sinned as he speaks about God's rebukes and discipline, and this has got him considering the brevity of life. He does not want his words and concerns to be misconstrued by others and so he resolves to be quiet about the internal disturbance he is dealing with. He decides to, ‘guard my ways’, ‘not sin with my tongue’ and ‘guard my mouth with a muzzle’. David really restricted himself didn't he?! These phrases sound harsh and painful! You can sense the frustration David feels and also the level of internal discomfort he is feeling. David disciplined himself and was strict with himself with what he said and to whom he said it. This is a sign of wisdom. 

Being able to discern how, when, if and with whom a matter needs to be discussed takes a lot of consideration. David recognised that his words could cause a negative impact if he used them wrongly, and as he was feeling confused and frustrated with life, he knew expressing that to other people would effect the faith they had in God. So, David forced his mouth shut. He knew the power of his words. He saw that speaking without consideration and talking to the wrong audience can cause sin and damage. As a man of God and as a king, he wisely considered how to manage his thoughts, fears and feelings as expressing these to the wrong kind of people could cause untold damage to the kingdom of Israel as well as the kingdom of God. The same is true of you. Your words, or lack of them can impact the community you are apart of and the kingdom you represent. What does the way you deal with disappointment, discipline or frustration communicate about you and the God you believe in?

David fought to be electively silent. 

He found this incredibly difficult and frustrating. Do you also know the strain and pain of restraint? David muzzled himself because he was more concerned about being innocent before the ‘wicked’ and not dishonouring God than relieving his mind and emotions. So he patiently waited for the appropriate place,  time and audience. David waited until he could pour out all his thoughts, fears, emotions and pain before God. He knew the only one that could help, that could comfort, that could bring reassurance and relief was God, and so he waited until he could safely and honestly share his suffering with Him. David held this uncomfortable and painful silence so that he did not dishonour himself or God. He was aware that there were people around him, watching and listening that were ‘wicked’ and he did not want to share his anger or suffering in front of them or for them to overhear his musings and agitations. They could misuse the information to defame David or God and so David 'burned' as he guarded his mouth. His ‘distress grew worse' yet he remained adamant in his vow of silence over the matters of his mind. He was unable to explain or alleviate his mind until he had a chance to speak with God. Is this what you do when you have a burdening heart and a distressed mind? Are you able to be, 'mute and silent' awaiting for a chance to speak to God even when anger and confusion seem to burn inside of you? It takes a great deal of self-discipline to do so. It is hard, and it is painful, yet it can be to your ultimate benefit and to the benefit of God's kingdom.

We can learn from this psalm several things:

• You can sin with your words. So learning to guard your mouth as David did is essential for your righteousness. It is important that you consider your words and not just speak on a whim or out of anger. At times it is better to ‘burn’ inside with anger and frustration than speak out and cause damage to; others, yourself and to offend God. 
• Sharing your emotions is important, but it needs to be done in the right manner and with the right audience. God can hear and bear all of your fear, frustrations, joy, happiness and anger. He is the One who can come and comfort and can change circumstances and ease your mind. Therefore you need to consider who you share your burdens with. 
• Keeping your deepest thoughts and feelings between you and God is ok. In fact it is the best idea!  He will always take time to listen and he understands your heart. Therefore you can share your internal turbulence with Him no matter what it is. If you share your concerns and frustrations with others, some will use what you say to think badly of God and your faith. Some will give you terrible advice and some will not understand but may gossip about your turmoil rather than assisting you in it. Therefore when you are in turmoil consider if you too should take a vow of silence on the matter as David did. Before speaking to others, talk to God and ask Him if there are people of faith that you can trust and share your concerns with.
• Silence can be more powerful than words. It takes a lot of discipline and self-control to not talk of your worries and frustrations. David's silence must have been noted especially as he was in a state of distress, but he knew it was the right course of action for the situation he was in. He knew others could misconstrue his words or dishonour God if he talked to them, so he kept a powerful, God-honouring silence. He did not defend himself or God, but struggled on. When people go through trying seasons without grumbling, it demonstrates an incredible strength.

David knew no-one could assist him with some of his internal struggles, only God. The same is true for you. As, who else holds the answers to life? Who else can explain the purpose of our own lives? 

Fret not

Psalm 37

 1  Fret not yourself because of evildoers; 

be not envious of wrongdoers! 

2  For they will soon fade like the grass 

and wither like the green herb. 

3  Trust in the Lord, and do good; 

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 

4  Delight yourself in the Lord, 

and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

5  Commit your way to the Lord; 

trust in him, and he will act. 

6  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, 

and your justice as the noonday. 

7  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; 

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, 

over the man who carries out evil devices! 

8  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! 

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 

9  For the evildoers shall be cut off, 

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 

10  In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; 

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 

11  But the meek shall inherit the land 

and delight themselves in abundant peace. 

12  The wicked plots against the righteous 

and gnashes his teeth at him, 

13  but the Lord laughs at the wicked, 

for he sees that his day is coming. 

14  The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows 

to bring down the poor and needy, 

to slay those whose way is upright; 

15  their sword shall enter their own heart, 

and their bows shall be broken. 

16  Better is the little that the righteous has 

than the abundance of many wicked. 

17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, 

but the Lord upholds the righteous. 

18  The Lord knows the days of the blameless, 

and their heritage will remain forever; 

19  they are not put to shame in evil times; 

in the days of famine they have abundance. 

20  But the wicked will perish; 

the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; 

they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 

21  The wicked borrows but does not pay back, 

but the righteous is generous and gives; 

22  for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, 

but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 

23  The steps of a man are established by the Lord, 

when he delights in his way; 

24  though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, 

for the Lord upholds his hand. 

25  I have been young, and now am old, 

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken 

or his children begging for bread. 

26  He is ever lending generously, 

and his children become a blessing. 

27  Turn away from evil and do good; 

so shall you dwell forever. 

28  For the Lord loves justice; 

he will not forsake his saints. 

They are preserved forever, 

but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 

29  The righteous shall inherit the land 

and dwell upon it forever. 

30  The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, 

and his tongue speaks justice. 

31  The law of his God is in his heart; 

his steps do not slip. 

32  The wicked watches for the righteous 

and seeks to put him to death. 

33  The Lord will not abandon him to his power 

or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 

34  Wait for the Lord and keep his way, 

and he will exalt you to inherit the land; 

you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 

35  I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, 

spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 

36  But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; 

though I sought him, he could not be found. 

37  Mark the blameless and behold the upright, 

for there is a future for the man of peace. 

38  But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; 

the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 

39  The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; 

he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 

40  The Lord helps them and delivers them; 

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, 

because they take refuge in him. 

‘Fret not yourself’ is David’s instruction at the beginning of this psalm. He repeats this three times so he clearly knows the ease at which humanity falls into a fretful state. We can fret, worry and become anxious, yet it is futile and unfounded. David reminds us that if you fret about evil and wrongdoers, ‘they will soon fade like grass’, if you are concerned about the wicked people who seem to prosper they, ‘will be cut off’, and if you worry for any other reason you need to know that, ‘it tends only to evil’. No good can come out of fretting, panicking or worrying, only anger and evil. 

David’s first point is that fretting is pointless, because if you know God, what are you worried about?! If you know the love and might of the Lord, if you are even beginning to understand something of His nature, what is there to concern yourself with? David’s second assurance is that wickedness will end - so what is the point of spending time concerning yourself with something that is going to fail and fall apart anyway? Thirdly, if you weren’t already convinced, consider; when you have been overly concerned about something, what good has it done? It has probably led to stress, anxiety, fear, anger. Did fretting ever change anything or benefit a situation? Or did it just lead to you feeling helpless and exhausted? These are the reasons why David, in his wisdom, tells you not to worry. Alternatively, he instructs three times you should, ‘Wait for the Lord’. Waiting for God is powerful. It exercises trust, grows confidence, gives security and will allow you to see that God is in action - the total opposite of what fretting achieves! David tells us that, ‘those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land’. Even if the wicked seem to be doing well for themselves, ‘in just a little while, the wicked will be no more’. So do not waste your time in fear or worry, but instead trust God and wait. For, ‘the arms of the wicked shall be broken’, ‘the wicked will perish’ and, ‘the wicked plots….but the Lord laughs’! Do not spend time concerning yourself with the schemes of evil that are in this world, for God is not concerned about them, instead, He laughs! He laughs at their false pride, their confidence in material things and their mindset of immortality. For God knows their comeuppance is coming, He knows their power, wealth and reign will end for they are not really in charge - He is! 

Therefore do not waste your physical, emotional or mental energy on worrying. Alternatively focus on the life you are meant to lead. Pursue the life of righteousness that God is calling you to and do not allow the plots and aims of evil distract you. Instead trust in God and ‘wait patiently’ for Him. Of course, this does not mean that wicked things will not come your way or that you should bury your head in the sand and ignore terrible circumstances, but it does mean that they should not be your focus, or take much of your time or energy. David knows very well the traumatic trials that can come your way, and he has now learnt as an old man that there are troubles, but complaining and worrying about them won’t make them go away, but God will. So his commendation is to seek God, pray and restfully wait for God to intervene. You can be assured that God sees, hears and laughs at the ridiculous notion that the wicked will win, so just wait.

This psalm guarantees that those who trust in God and wait for Him will; have the desires of their heart satisfied (v4), receive justice (v6), ‘inherit the land’, ‘delight themselves in abundant peace’, be upheld (v17), and will not be put to shame (v19). Isn’t that worth spending your time contemplating?! For God sees and knows what people are up to. He knows the righteous from the wicked. He knows whose ways will ultimately prosper, and he lets you into the secret through this psalm too! You need to focus on the way you are living and not waste time concerning yourself with the acts of others. You cannot change them. Remember that God is laughing at those who are wicked as he sees the demise of their evil ways. One day they, ‘like smoke will vanish away’, You can however change your own mindset and behaviour to ensure that you are honouring and trusting God with your life. 

Do you need to change your focus today and move from fretting into faith? 

‘Commit your way to the Lord, rest in him, and He will act.’ (v5).

reject evil

 Psalm 36:1–12 (ESV):  

1  Transgression speaks to the wicked 

deep in his heart; 

there is no fear of God 

before his eyes. 

2  For he flatters himself in his own eyes 

that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 

3  The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; 

he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 

4  He plots trouble while on his bed; 

he sets himself in a way that is not good; 

he does not reject evil. 

5  Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the clouds. 

6  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; 

your judgments are like the great deep; 

man and beast you save, O Lord. 

7  How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

8  They feast on the abundance of your house, 

and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 

9  For with you is the fountain of life; 

in your light do we see light. 

10  Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, 

and your righteousness to the upright of heart! 

11  Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, 

nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 

12  There the evildoers lie fallen; 

they are thrust down, unable to rise. 

When you do something wrong, do you ever try to cover it up? Or explain it away as if it’s not such a bad thing? This is what David tells us happens in the heart of the wicked. People that have done wrong and do not admit it, that try to make it sound ok to have wickedness in them and remain unrepentant of sin, are wicked. Trying to appease guilt and shame by diminishing the extent of your wrongdoing is not ok. It is not humility, kindness or understanding, it is wickedness. This is because when you try to explain away sin, it leads to pride as you, ‘flatter yourself’ that you can manage to convince others of your not-so-bad behaviour and feel good about these powers of persuasion rather than confessing the sin and hating it (v2). Pride in the cover up may cause you to feel less bad, but it separates you from truth, justice and righteousness which are the qualities God wants you to have and enjoy. You should not attempt to hide sin or make it seem less terrible. Sin is sin. It is wilful disobedience to God, purposefully doing the things you know you shouldn’t, turning your back on good and pursuing evil. Yet we all do it, sin i mean, so there is grace for forgiveness and restoration, but you need to ensure that in your life sin is hated and called out, not hidden, accepted or excused. It is the work of the devil trying to take you off track by getting you to accept and excuse wrongdoing so that you can continue living sinfully instead of pursuing righteousness and God’s presence. 

If you wish to honour God with your life yet find yourself trying to appease your own soul and mind through covering up sin, know that you are in danger of becoming one whose, ‘words … are trouble and deceit’. It is a slippery slope and if this behaviour becomes embedded in your life then you will cease, ‘to act wisely and do good’. It is a terrifying truth. If you know that you absolve yourself from sin by making excuses and downplaying it, then this is your warning to stop. If you are one who professes to believe in and follow God; sin is to be hated not tolerated in your life. If you know you have been doing this, then you can repent today. You do not have to become untrustworthy, troublesome, deceitful or foolish. In order to be made right with God, you must, ‘reject sin’ for evil and holiness cannot co-exist. You are fooling yourself if you think this is possible. You can admit your wrongdoing and confess your sin to God, and be forgiven. Then God can then restore you to righteousness. 

After these verses on excusing sin, David speaks of the greatness of God. This is in order to remind you why living with Him is a much better way than living with sin. Those who seek righteousness have the marvellous privilege of being able to enter into relationship with God. Those who pursue evil do not. They miss out on getting to know God, who is; steadfast in His love, faithful, righteous and just. Yet if you live God’s way and get to know Him you will get to know that; you’re always loved, you have everlasting companionship, you’ll get trustworthy guidance, and you will be shown truth and justice. God's love is secure and encompasses everything He is; faithful and righteous, fair and just, wants to save you and all that you love, protects and restores you, provides for you, sustains and refreshes you. 

Are you living knowing the good of these things? Or are you missing out because of unresolved sin? 

David has written this psalm showing the danger of sinful acts contrasting with the beauty of God for you cannot have both in your life. God is good, loving, pure, holy and right, therefore He cannot be in the presence of evil and wickedness. So the enticement from David is to show you how wonderful God is, as surely you want these attributes in your life as they are so much better than any enjoyment, peace or comfort that transgression can impart. David invites you to put an end to sin and seek God as there is a way for every sinner to become righteous and good. It does require effort and humility but the steadfastness of God’s love, His loyalty, righteousness, truth and justice are freely available for all. You can know and receive boundless love, kindness, favour and direction from the Lord. God made a way for you to do that when you confess sin and ask for forgiveness. So any barrier to you getting to know God is gone. God poured out the punishment for your transgressions and sin upon His son, Jesus as he died. Jesus was punished and put to death for all wickedness. In his last moments Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This applied to those around him then as much as it does for you and the rest of mankind! Sometimes you don’t know what you’re doing or why, but you are stuck in unhealthy attitudes and actions. When you look to Jesus, you can know that he spoke those words over you too. You can be forgiven. Your sin has been crucified with Christ so that you can know the presence of God and His goodness in your life. 

If you know that you are forgiven and free, and you have been living knowing His presence, then, you can still get things wrong. So ask God to not let, ‘the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away’. I love that this is at the end, for we can all get to know how great it is to have God in our lives, but let us not get proud about it, or cocky as we need the constant reminder to keep away from evil in order to remain righteous. As great and awesome as God is, we can forget it and get lost in our walk through life, losing touch with Him and who we are meant to be, so let not arrogance or evil come into your life but, ‘watch your life and your doctrine closely’ (1 Timothy 4:16).

Persist in Prayer

 Psalm 28:1–9 (ESV):  

1  To you, O Lord, I call; 

my rock, be not deaf to me, 

lest, if you be silent to me, 

I become like those who go down to the pit. 

2  Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, 

when I cry to you for help, 

when I lift up my hands 

toward your most holy sanctuary. 

3  Do not drag me off with the wicked, 

with the workers of evil, 

who speak peace with their neighbours 

while evil is in their hearts. 

4  Give to them according to their work 

and according to the evil of their deeds; 

give to them according to the work of their hands; 

render them their due reward. 

5  Because they do not regard the works of the Lord 

or the work of his hands, 

he will tear them down and build them up no more. 

6  Blessed be the Lord! 

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 

7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; 

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; 

my heart exults, 

and with my song I give thanks to him. 

8  The Lord is the strength of his people; 

he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 

9  Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! 

Be their shepherd and carry them forever. 

In this psalm David starts off quite frustrated as he is praying and has been praying repeatedly for some time, but it seems like God is deaf and silent. Have you ever felt like that? Unheard, or even ignored by God|? It is not uncommon to feel this way, and it is such a relief to read these words in David’s psalm - to know that others have a similar experience and have got through it. This psalm reminds me of the story of the persistent widow in the New Testament (Luke 18). She kept asking for the same thing until she got a different response. Jesus commended us through that parable to be incessant in prayer. David was, even when he was bored of asking the same thing, frustrated and felt unheard. Are you persistent in prayer? Continually praying and seeking God is hard work especially when God seems silent. David had to learn the hard lesson that God does certainly hear and is active, just not in his way or time frame. The same is true for you. Do you have the steadfastness to keep going?

It can feel frustrating and you can become desperate, despairing and despondent when prayers seem to go unanswered. Don’t forget to let God know that too - David does - he implores God not to be deaf or silent! That sounds a brazen way to speak to the Lord Almighty! Yet God doesn't tell him off for it, in fact David is known by God as, "a man after my own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14)! Clearly, God loves the honesty. It is a symbol of a great relationship when you can be truly open and honest with each other, keeping nothing hidden. That is how David is with God, and you can be too. 

Even when David is confused and annoyed, David still seeks relationship with God. Even when God is the one David is confused by and frustrated by! This is faith! David knew that God was worth talking to and pouring out his problems to even when God was not appearing to do anything or speak. David still knew God was the One who could change things and help. He did not give up, he persevered in prayer as he was more concerned about living a life without God which would enter into evil than God's apparent silence. I find it interesting that David is appealing to God to listen to and answer him as he is concerned that God’s continued silence will cause him to lose focus and go the way of the wicked. That is his concern, that God's lack of interaction with him will cause him to lose focus and sin. Have you ever thought of that for yourself? That when you pull away from God, put less time and effort into the relationship that you are more at risk of doing evil? David knows his weaknesses and is concerned that if God remains silent, it will become increasingly difficult to resist temptation. The further away God seems, the easier it is to do what you know is wrong. This is what David is concerned about. He knows himself pretty well and is aware of the triggers that could lead him into wickedness and the ‘pit’. Do you know your pitfalls? Are you aware of the things that tempt you to go wayward? Do you seek relationship with God even in the hard times because your desire is to maintain righteous and not stumble into sin?

Maybe the distance David feels is because of sin. He refers in verse 2 to lifting up his hands to God's sanctuary pleading for mercy and help. Maybe David had gone wrong and he realised that this distance between him and God was because of his own wrongdoing. How can a pure, holy God get near those who are sinful and guilty? David knew this was the case and so pleads for mercy, forgiveness and help. David wanted to be made right before God and knew he could not do it by himself, the same is true for you. Thankfully God knew this was a problem and so has sent Jesus as a sacrifice for all sin, so you can be made right before God, you still need to ask for forgiveness though. When you go wrong, do you? Or do you just assume you're forgiven? It is right to repent and to mourn your wayward tendencies. It is right for you to plead for forgiveness and mercy as David did. You will receive it because Jesus has already paid the price for it, all you need to do is admit it and ask. 

Next David reminds himself that the wicked don’t actually prosper, not long-term anyway. He knows that God will, ‘tear them down and build them up no more’. It is obvious that God’s way is the better way. Yet it is hard to live knowing that sometimes as other options seem inviting. The attraction of not going God's way can blind you sometimes to the truth that the way of the wicked always ends in a pit. This is true whether you're feeling close to God or not. You need to remind yourself, as David did, of the reality that living life like the wicked will lead you away from God, His blessings, salvation, sanctuary, safety and reward. However you choose to live, God will, ‘render them their due reward’. What reward are you living to receive? Are you looking forward to receiving your reward as someone who lives for God or will you be receiving the 'reward'  of the wicked? Evil ways, deception, wayward living, physical gratification all may seem pleasant and desirable in the immediate, but the long-term effects are the pit and a tearing down. What can you expect to receive? 

David concludes at the end of this psalm that the way of the Lord is the way to go. Although it is tough, lonely, sacrificial and painful at times, at least your reward is with God. He can give you salvation, strength and rescue, blessing, hope and refuge. Whereas the promise for those going in a different direction is that God, ‘will tear them down and build them up no more’. This means that perseverance is required. Relationship with God needs to be sought and worked at, prayer needs to be persistent and the direction of your life needs to be set. God will not always seem close and you may not always hear or see Him acting, what are you going to do then? Are you going to still be seeking, praying and walking in the way He has set for you? 

Keep choosing the way of the Lord, and the long-term benefits will follow. Praise God for the promises he has over your life, for your eternity and your salvation, and keep honouring and living for Him, persist in prayer and you will know His blessings!