Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 139:19-24
Ps 139:19-24
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
In this Psalm there are several passages that have been used (or misused) as proof texts on various topics. As we read the Psalm as a whole we see the main point is the Psalmist’s trust in God as God. He realizes that God is all seeing, all knowing and is in complete control of all things. God controls his personal life, creation, his nation and all the other nations of the world. God knows when he is filled with joy and things are going right for him but he also knows when he is being mistreated and when evil abounds.
We still serve the same God today. We live in a wicked world where sin abounds and so many either directly oppose God or malign his name and ridicule his word. The enemies of God are all around us and sadly many of them are in the guise of “Christians”. Like Solomon of old, they never quit serving God but add so many idols to their lives; gods of greed, nature, pleasure and so many more. They serve the creature rather than the creator. In addition to these, we face a world seeking to take God or anything that implies his existence out of our lives.
While we live in a wicked world, we can still trust God. There is nothing happening that is beyond his control. The many problems we face in our personal lives are easily solved by our God. We may not get the solution we want but God will do what is best for us in every case, if we trust him. God is in control of our nation and since he is, there has never been a time that prayer for our leaders is more needed than is now. We need to pray that God will raise up leaders to move and influence this country to respect him and his word. We also need to pray for our enemies that God’s love will reach their hearts and change their lives.
O God, my heavenly Father, I am so thankful for your love for me. I am thankful that you are in control of my life and the world where I live. I confess that I don’t understand so much of what happens or even how you can let it go on but I trust you to do what is best. As I contemplate your word, I see my own life and realize how much I fall short of being like you. Give me wisdom to know how to apply your word and strength to carry it out. Fill my heart with love and compassion, even for those who would do me harm. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
