Saturday, December 22, 2007

Psalm 140

140:1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net;
beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

6 I say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Calling out to God because you need help is natural, it is probably part of the reason you came to believe in the first place. Thankfully it might begin there but it doesn't end there. Yet just because it doesn't end there doesn't mean it still not true. God loves us and wants us to look out for our good.

Which leads us to profess our belief. You are my God! You are my strength! God cares for those who are down and out, the afflicted. He watches out that then needy are not taken advantage of. One of the most basic questions related to believing is, "Do you think you can do it on your own, or do you need/want help?" Once you taste the help God offers surrender is easy. It's like being married to an amazing person, you trust them and it is easy to do what they want.

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