Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalm 94:16-23
Psalm 94:16-23
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? 17 Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. 18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,” your love, O LORD, supported me. 19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. 20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--one that brings on misery by its decrees? 21 They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.
Even though they may look the same in action, there is a vast difference between righteous indignation and personal vengeance. This is true of our zeal for God and our attempts to be noticed and to control others around us. The difference is in our attitude about ourselves, about other people and about God. The bad part of this is that we may start out with the right attitudes but gradually move into the area where our motives are about us and not about God and what is right. This can be a subtle and dangerous transition.
The Psalmist seemed to be concerned about God and what was right. He wanted the righteous to flourish and the wicked to be stopped. It was not so much the people but the actions of the people. Of course this is the way God is toward us; he hates sin but loves the sinner.
We see this demonstrated when Jesus came into the temple and became so upset over those who were selling animals and exchanging money. His anger was because they had made a place that was supposed to be a house of prayer into a den of robbers. What had started out most likely as an innocent practice had become a lucrative (and often dishonest) business.
Satan is and always has been crafty in moving us away from God. We must have the heart of David that was patterned after God’s own heart. We need to pray, as did Solomon, for wisdom to do what is right and lead others in the right path. This is why we take up the cross daily – serving God is an ongoing process.
O Lord, thank you for your love for me. When I consider the vastness of the entire universe and all you have created and then realize you actually know who I am and care about me, I stand in awe. I am so ashamed of so many things I have done and the reasons I have done them and yet I know you have forgiven me. For this I give you thanks and praise. Give me wisdom to know how and strength to begin with a new commitment to live for you every day. Help me today to show your love to others. I pray in the name of my loving Savior and Lord, Jesus.
--Robert
