Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Psalm 59:9-11

Psalm 59:9-11    "Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.  (10)  The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.  (11)  Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield."

Psalm 58 and Psalm 59 show David's humanity and the fact that he dealt with the same emotions that you and I deal with. Quite honestly, I almost passed right over both of those Psalms after this past week of trying to focus on the blessings of life.  When I read Psalm 58, my heart and mind just could not take the thoughts of David concerning his enemies. I'm showing my side of humanity just now. It overwhelmed me, so I skipped Psalm 58. Then in Psalm 59, David was still pouring out his heart concerning the enemies that stood against him. Then I realized David was just like you and me in that his emotions would get the best of him at times. But also in these Psalms, he shows us how to deal with those emotions.

"Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there." David literally was pouring out his heart unto the Lord.  In one breath, David asks the Lord to just wipe them off the face of the earth. In the next, he said, "Slay them not." That shows me that casting our cares upon the Lord brings us to the place where we find calmness and proper thinking.  For me, I hear too much even today about wanting the opposition to be taken away; yet, David came to the conclusion that there was a necessity for them being here. What? The ungodly are necessary?

Let me finish the statement that I quoted a minute ago. "Slay them not, lest my people forget."  It seems the reason for God allowing people to remain that are totally against God in their actions and attitudes is to keep us humble before our God.  I remember reading many years ago of a man who had been imprisoned in Russia because of his faith in Jesus Christ. His summation of what was taking place, as communism was taking over, was that the people had forgotten God.  David understood this truth. If there is no opposition, people become lax in our worship toward God. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." (Amos 6:1) There is a great danger of God's people becoming indifferent in our approach toward God.

Could it be that Christians in America are following that very same path? Could it be that we have forgotten God to a great extent? Could it be that God has allowed things that are occurring in our nation in order to bring us to our knees before Him?  Is He at this moment pronouncing judgment upon us because we, to a great extent, have forgotten Him? David did not want the opposition to be slain, but he was asking God to bring them down from power. Why? Was it in order for the people to become at ease again? No! He was asking this in order that God's people would see and recognize the wondrous power of the Almighty at work in the land.

O Lord, would you please scatter the ungodly by your power that we may see your power and be brought back in submission to you again?

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...

Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (3)

Matthew 6:9-13    "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." When others might go away from us, God has promised never to forsake us. When others might not be truthful, our Father in heaven is faithful and full of truth. When others cannot understand our feelings, our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel and is able to empathize with us. In fact, He has told us that He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." He is stirred when we are sad.  Our relationship with Him is of th...