Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 35:1-6
Ps 35:1-6
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them! (ESV)
1 Tim 4:7-9
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. (ESV)
This Psalm of David was written when he was being accused of things he had not done, and he was being mistreated by people that he had tried to help and to whom he had shown compassion in their times of distress. In his mind, he had never done anything to them to cause them to want to hurt him, and yet, they were seeking his life. He is asking God to take vengeance on them.
He was trying to do what was right toward these people and toward God. He is not taking matters into his own hands but is trusting God to punish the evil and to deliver him from their devises. This leaves room for the wrath of God and lets him be the judge of who deserves to be punished. This is what we have been told to do and how we are to respond when we are mistreated. Let God be God!
He is trusting God to give him relief in his time of affliction. We need to trust God when we face trials also. It may be that we have been betrayed by a friend, or it may be that there are people who dislike us for some unknown reason, or it may be that there are those who are “out to get us” because they don’t agree with us on some issue. We need to let God be the judge and let him be the one to seek vengeance or to punish. We are to train ourselves for godliness and live for Jesus in all we do as we treat others the way we want to be treated.
O Lord God, you are great and majestic in every way. You alone are God Supreme, above all others. You have exalted the name of Jesus above every name in heaven and on earth. Help me treat your name and the name of Jesus with the utmost reverence in all I say. Thank you for loving me and being merciful to me. I know that I am what I am by your grace and not by my own doing. Use me to serve you by serving others. Give me wisdom to be like Jesus. In his name I pray.
Robert
