Today’s reading is a good example of how God’s word strengthens my faith and gives me daily confidence to navigate life. David ends with a note of hope and confidence in Yahweh saying, “I KNOW that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted & will execute justice for the needy” (12). There’s a lot of static today about the afflicted & oppressed & cries for justice. God’s word tells me here that God’s got that. I KNOW that he will do everything that needs to be done for any of his people who are afflicted or needy. It may not happen as quickly as I want it or in the way that I think is best, but it will happen – in God’s time and in his way.
Before David arrived at the place of hope, he himself was among the afflicted. In verses 1-5, he wrote of what he endured from “evil men,” “violent men,” who planned evil things in their heart and stirred up wars continually (1-2). How did they do that? With their words from sharp tongues and poisonous lips (3). They tried to trip him up somehow and entrap him in some scheme (4-5). How did David respond, and how should I respond if I’m ever faced with the same situation? He prayed and plead for mercy. He affirmed who Yahweh was: “my God,” “my Lord, the strength of my salvation,” his covering (helmet?) “in the day of battle” (6-7). David did not seek personal vengeance; instead he sought Yahweh and appealed to him to thwart and prevent the desires and “evil plot of the wicked” (8). He prayed for God to turn their own slander & lies against them (9-11).
I’m glad David ended on such a note of hope instead of despair. This tells me that I can trust God to execute justice for me, should I ever need him to do so. I’m also taught here how to live as a righteous & upright person: by giving thanks to God and spending time in his presence (13). I don’t thank God enough throughout the day for his protection and safety and for fighting my battles for me against the many forces of evil. It’s so easy to focus on all the evil going on in the world instead of dwelling on WHO GOD IS: MY God, MY Lord, “THE STRENGTH OF MY SALVATION.” I surely need to spend more time with God and less time watching TV or on FaceBook. Amen?!
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