It seems to me a man comes into this world with a little ready raw material—himself. His folks can only give him a sort of push, and a mite of teaching, but in the long run what a man becomes is his own problem. There’ve always been hard times, there’ve always been wars and troubles—famine, disease, and such-like—and some folks are born with money, some with none. In the end it is up to the man what he becomes, and none of those other things matter. In horses, dogs, and men it is character that counts.”
–Louis L’Amour (Chancy)
“You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”
“You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”
–Deuteronomy 3:22(NKJV)
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If Psalm 64 isn’t for us today, I don’t what is. In these times of questions and perplexities we often complain as we see David doing in the words of this Psalm. He seeks protection from the Lord. The first few verses he tells of the adversities that he faces, then he finishes with God’s faithfulness to him and how people will stand in awe when they see God’s working.
1 — Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 — Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 — Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows–bitter words,
4 — That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.
5 — They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, “Who will see them?”
6 — They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
7 — But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they shall be wounded.
8 — So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; all who see them shall flee away.
9 — All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider His doing.
10 — The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory. (NKJV)
First, I want to call your attention to verse 1. The NKJV softens the term by using meditation. Literally the translation should be “complaint.” Do you find yourself complaining about the situation in the world? Complaining about Afghanistan, about the bureaucrats, about the troubles you have, about those who have died, about life in general. You complain that nothing is being done. My, my doesn’t verses 1-6, sound like the liberal politicians and the liberal media. They encourage themselves by doing more evil. They plot and scheme.
We find that we are in the midst of evil-doers. Those that plot and scheme against us, and against the kingdom of God. We wait for God to remove the danger, but He does not, He shelters us from its force. George O. Wood suggest this as a possible scenario, “Is it possible the Lord allows our problems to remain just long enough get a psalm from us, to genuinely shape our character, to forever change us, to provide an occasion of remembrance of His acts on our behalf so we might forever praise Him?”
I know I have looked at the faces of those in leadership positions who exemplify those that David is talking about. I can see their smug faces and their arrogance. Then I have seen those same attitudes of smugness and arrogance on the faces of those who have come against me at times in my life. Woe is me, and anger begins to simmer….
But wait! Read the rest of the Psalm. God comes against them. He has finally said, enough is enough! There comes a time and place when he will no longer allow iniquity show its ugly face. Yes, the reality of the situation may be in verses 1-6, but the conclusion of the matter is found in verses 7-10. God is always in control. Remember, He knows the outcome even before the situation arises.
“When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through–
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”
–Charles A. Tindley
——————————————
If Psalm 64 isn’t for us today, I don’t what is. In these times of questions and perplexities we often complain as we see David doing in the words of this Psalm. He seeks protection from the Lord. The first few verses he tells of the adversities that he faces, then he finishes with God’s faithfulness to him and how people will stand in awe when they see God’s working.
1 — Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 — Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 — Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows–bitter words,
4 — That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.
5 — They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, “Who will see them?”
6 — They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
7 — But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they shall be wounded.
8 — So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; all who see them shall flee away.
9 — All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider His doing.
10 — The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory. (NKJV)
First, I want to call your attention to verse 1. The NKJV softens the term by using meditation. Literally the translation should be “complaint.” Do you find yourself complaining about the situation in the world? Complaining about Afghanistan, about the bureaucrats, about the troubles you have, about those who have died, about life in general. You complain that nothing is being done. My, my doesn’t verses 1-6, sound like the liberal politicians and the liberal media. They encourage themselves by doing more evil. They plot and scheme.
We find that we are in the midst of evil-doers. Those that plot and scheme against us, and against the kingdom of God. We wait for God to remove the danger, but He does not, He shelters us from its force. George O. Wood suggest this as a possible scenario, “Is it possible the Lord allows our problems to remain just long enough get a psalm from us, to genuinely shape our character, to forever change us, to provide an occasion of remembrance of His acts on our behalf so we might forever praise Him?”
I know I have looked at the faces of those in leadership positions who exemplify those that David is talking about. I can see their smug faces and their arrogance. Then I have seen those same attitudes of smugness and arrogance on the faces of those who have come against me at times in my life. Woe is me, and anger begins to simmer….
But wait! Read the rest of the Psalm. God comes against them. He has finally said, enough is enough! There comes a time and place when he will no longer allow iniquity show its ugly face. Yes, the reality of the situation may be in verses 1-6, but the conclusion of the matter is found in verses 7-10. God is always in control. Remember, He knows the outcome even before the situation arises.
“When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through–
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”
–Charles A. Tindley