Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 69:24-29
Ps 69:24-29
24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. 25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. 27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. 28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. 29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.
Matt 27:41-44
41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The psalmist had done nothing to deserve the mistreatment and the abuse he was receiving. There were those who sought his life even though he had sought to do what was right toward both God and his fellow men. In his anguish he turned to God and sought relief and retribution on his enemies. He was God’s chosen leader so his enemies were the enemies of God.
In reality the suffering of the psalmist was pale in comparison to what the Son of God was suffering at the hands of men who claimed to be the leaders of God’s people and the teachers of the Law. These men had delivered Jesus to Pilate to be crucified out of envy, even though he had done nothing to deserve death. Not content that he just die, these men who should have been an example of the love of God were hurling accusations and insults on his Son.
Jesus could have destroyed them all with just a word. He could have come down from the cross at any time. He had more power than the universe could offer because he had created it all. But because he loved us and because he loved his Father enough to be obedient to him, he endured the scorn, the mockery and the shame until he gave up his spirit. He died but he lives so we might live in him.
My Father and my God, I am so thankful for your love shown to me in more ways than I can even know. You have blessed me with the opportunity to live in the United States of America at a time when I can enjoy so many freedoms. You gave me parents who loved you and taught me to love you. You have blessed me with such a loving family. You have given me so many friends over the years who have been such an encouragement. More than all of this, you have given your Son to make it possible that I can live with you in eternity. I pray in His name.
Robert
