The book of Psalms is a great portion of the Bible that deals with just about every emotion known to the human experience. Today’s psalms are prayers of those who are oppressed by evil doers, and they resonate with all of us Who hasn’t been on the business end of a sinful person’s bad behavior, suffered from a sinful person’s sins? Who hasn’t at least been tempted to get even, gain revenge, or get a little pay-back? These psalms will speak to your heart.
“O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes, Make Your way straight before me.” Psalms 5:8. There’s a normal human way to deal with one’s enemies, but it’s not a very righteous approach — yelling, manipulating, revenge, violence, etc. But what do you do? The psalmist pleads with the Lord to lead him in the proper way to live in response to evil. Love, returning good for evil, not carrying a grudge, not planning revenge, approaching the offender privately at first, and more. Such paths are hard to follow, when suffering evil at an enemy’s hands is our lot, but the righteous man or woman will look to God to help him keep his ways straight.
Return, O LORD, rescue my soul, save me because of Your lovingkindness.” (Psa. 6:4). We will be running across this word, lovingkindness) a great deal. It is the word in Hebrew pronounced something like chesed, which is covenant love. The psalmist calls upon the Lord to save, not on the basis of his righteousness or worthiness, but rather on the basis of promised, vowed love for His people. The psalmist knew and understood family love and loyalty, and that is what covenant love is. Such love is trustworthy, it can be depended on — even when you spill the milk or break the dish. When rescue is needed, it can be called upon reliably. Wouldn’t you like such a love you could depend on? It is available for God’s people, Christians, the church.
“His mischief will return upon his own head. And his violence will descend upon his own pate.” (Psa. 7:16). The Lord, we’re told is perfectly able to mete out justice and even vengeance against one’s enemies. And could there be any better justice shown in this world than to have the evil that an enemy planned for you come back and bite him? Let justice and revenge be God’s business; He’s much better at it than any of us could ever be.
See you tomorrow, Lord wlling.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.
parklinscomb
The God who listens to the oppressed — Psalms 5-7
The book of Psalms is a great portion of the Bible that deals with just about every emotion known to the human experience. Today’s psalms are prayers of those who are oppressed by evil doers, and they resonate with all of us Who hasn’t been on the business end of a sinful person’s bad behavior, suffered from a sinful person’s sins? Who hasn’t at least been tempted to get even, gain revenge, or get a little pay-back? These psalms will speak to your heart.
“O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes, Make Your way straight before me.” Psalms 5:8. There’s a normal human way to deal with one’s enemies, but it’s not a very righteous approach — yelling, manipulating, revenge, violence, etc. But what do you do? The psalmist pleads with the Lord to lead him in the proper way to live in response to evil. Love, returning good for evil, not carrying a grudge, not planning revenge, approaching the offender privately at first, and more. Such paths are hard to follow, when suffering evil at an enemy’s hands is our lot, but the righteous man or woman will look to God to help him keep his ways straight.
Return, O LORD, rescue my soul, save me because of Your lovingkindness.” (Psa. 6:4). We will be running across this word, lovingkindness) a great deal. It is the word in Hebrew pronounced something like chesed, which is covenant love. The psalmist calls upon the Lord to save, not on the basis of his righteousness or worthiness, but rather on the basis of promised, vowed love for His people. The psalmist knew and understood family love and loyalty, and that is what covenant love is. Such love is trustworthy, it can be depended on — even when you spill the milk or break the dish. When rescue is needed, it can be called upon reliably. Wouldn’t you like such a love you could depend on? It is available for God’s people, Christians, the church.
“His mischief will return upon his own head. And his violence will descend upon his own pate.” (Psa. 7:16). The Lord, we’re told is perfectly able to mete out justice and even vengeance against one’s enemies. And could there be any better justice shown in this world than to have the evil that an enemy planned for you come back and bite him? Let justice and revenge be God’s business; He’s much better at it than any of us could ever be.
See you tomorrow, Lord wlling.
Share this:
Like this:
Related
About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.