Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 35:1-10
Ps 35:1-10
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise--may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. 10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
Rom. 12:19
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
It is a natural reaction on our part to take vengeance when we feel we have been done wrong. If someone hits us, we want to hit them back. If they talk bad about us, we want to say something just as bad about them. It seems to be ingrained in us to want to “get even” when we have been mistreated.
The Psalmist did not seek his own revenge but left room for the wrath of God against his enemies. After all, he was leading God’s people and fighting God’s battle, so why not let God take care of the fighting. Jesus told Pilate that he could call 10,000 angels and stop all that was happening to him but since he knew it was not God’s will, he did not do so. When Peter tried to fight for him, he told him to put up his sword. He put into practice his teaching when he said we are to “turn the other cheek” when someone hits us and return good for evil.
It is easier for us to fight back instead of letting God take care of things but as his children we are to put our trust in him and let him have his way, in his time.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for your promise to take care of all who mistreat your people. Keep me from acting out of anger or fear and doing something I should not do. When someone irritates me in traffic or in the supermarket, help me be patient, loving and kind instead of hateful. Give me a pure heart to show love to all with whom I come in contact. Help me be a good example as your child so I bring honor to your name. Be with those who are sick, hurting and taking treatments. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
