Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 140:1-5
Ps 140:1-5
1 Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, 2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. 3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet. 5 Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path. Selah
There are many today who have a struggle reconciling how a loving and caring God can allow so much evil in our world. We hear so often about mass shootings, stabbings, bombings and road rage that end in deaths. It is not unusual to hear the news and be told about some parent who has abandoned their baby, abused their children or killed their entire family. Then there is the terrorism that seems to be overtaking the world and threatening peace and lives of citizens of almost every country. How can a loving God allow these things to happen?
In the Old Testament God warned Israel many times that if they chose to serve him and live by his laws, he would protect them and bless them. However, if they did not follow him, respect him and live for him, he would send pestilence on them and allow their enemies to overtake them. He warned they would even be taken into bondage in a foreign land as exiles. When they did not listen to him, they suffered the consequences. Some of the most sordid reading in the world is what happened when their enemies came and destroyed them without mercy. It did not matter what age, what gender, whether rich or poor, they faced the atrocities of a godless and ruthless army.
God tells us today that if we serve him, he will bless us and protect us. When we turn our backs on him, he will give us over to all kinds of wickedness and evil. If we do not recognize him as the only true God and serve him according to his word, we cannot expect him to be with us, to protect us or to bless us. Another part of this is that when wickedness abounds, often Christianity becomes the target of attack. In many ways we see this happening today.
O God, I am thankful that you are in control, even over Satan. I am thankful that you have promised to limit the things I face in my life. Please give me strength to stand for you faithfully and never deny you, no matter what I face. I thank you that I live in a country where I do not face what so many are facing in other places because of their faith in Jesus and in you. I ask you to please be with them and help them be faithful, protect them and their families and let their faith be an encouragement to me. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
