Psalm 140:1-8
God, get me out of here, away from this evil;
protect me from these vicious people.
All they do is think up new ways to be bad;
they spend their days plotting war games.
They practice the sharp rhetoric of hate and hurt,
speak venomous words that maim and kill.
God, keep me out of the clutch of these wicked ones,
protect me from these vicious people;
All boast and swagger, they plot ways to trip me up,
determined to bring me down.
These crooks invent traps to catch me
and do their best to incriminate me.
I prayed, “God, you’re my God!
Listen, God! Mercy!
God, my Lord, Strong Savior,
protect me when the fighting breaks out!
Don’t let the wicked have their way, God,
don’t give them an inch!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I went in search of commentaries that would provide insight into what David was thinking when he wrote this Psalm. In doing so, I realized that many of us could offer this same prayer today…and we probably should! Everywhere you turn, people are making claims that simply are not true. Ideas and legislation are being introduced – and even enacted – to “prevent” things that aren’t even a “thing!” We are often living in a land of claims against people and groups that don’t even make sense, if we’d stop to really think for a minute. One instance that comes to mind is the ridiculous banning of books in our schools and libraries based on the personal biases of a handful of people.
The Internet has proved to be a breeding ground of absurd – and evil – ideas and opinions. Anyone can have a blog, podcast or YouTube channel and promote his/her personal agenda – or the conspiracy theories of this group or another. And many of these folks can be quite compelling and persuasive in their “delivery” and the information they generate. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), one must wonder continually if what is seen and heard is genuine – or created from the imagination and “skills” of a person who wishes to distort the truth and stir up trouble. This misinformation is not just coming from your neighbor down the street – it is often part of an international “propaganda warfare” being promoted by folks in other countries to literally alter the course of our world! So, in 2024, we pray the prayer of David in Psalm 140…and it is equally relevant to us this day. I encourage you to read them again in a modern day context.
In the latter verses of Psalm 140, David calls for his enemies to “drown in their own verbal poison.” He asks God to “pile hellfire on them” and “bury them alive in crevasses!” Because Jesus teaches us to “love one another” and “treat others as you wish to be treated,” I find myself asking God to mete out justice – and to deal with evil as He deems best. In this way, I do my best to refrain from judgment – and I ask God to address these people and situations according to His will – not my own.
I can tell you that the “waiting” for God to work is sometimes excruciatingly difficult. The heartache and angst we often experience as people lie, cheat, and steal – and seem to “get away with murder” can have us scratching our heads and asking, “Why do I even bother to try to stay the course?” But just as David pleads with God to protect him and keep the wicked from having an inch, in verses 12-13, we read “I know that you, God, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence.”
God is in complete control. I have total confidence that He will handle the wicked evildoers – in His own time and His own way – and it will be perfect. Keep praying for justice! Keep doing what God commands and model the teachings of Jesus Christ. Love others and treat them as you wish to be treated – even the liars, cheaters, and thieves…and trust God to make the difference. He can – and He will! In the end, God wins – and so do we if we stay the course! Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
Daily Devo Time 