God Speaks
An Innocent Man (David) Is Being Hounded and Persecuted; There Is Hope in God
Verse of the Day: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my enemies who surround me.” (Psalm 17:8-9 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection
Consider the following questions regarding Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63
> 1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
> 2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Psalms 17
1. The LORD God’s unfailing love rescues and protects those who trust and obey Him, no matter how evil and ravaging our enemies are.
2. People can seek and find rescue in the LORD God.
Psalms 35
1. God pays special attention and comes to the aid of those who ask Him to content with their enemies.
2. People can ask God to vindicate them in His righteousness and put their enemies to shame..
Psalm 54
1. God is ready, willing and able to help and sustain those who come to Him for righteousness and vindication.
2. People are often arrogant and ruthless and turn on the righteous.
Psalms 63
1. God is good, trustworthy and faithful.
2. People must hold on to Him and let God deal with those who trouble them.
Prayer
> 3. How might I pray regarding Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63?
Thank You, LORD God, for declaring me innocent because of Jesus’ sacrifice. You examined His thoughts, scrutinized His life and found no sin or wrong there. Following Your laws will keep me from following cruel and wicked people. Because of Jesus, I have experienced You listening to and answering my prayers. Jesus sought refuge in Father God; therefore, the LORD God’s unfailing love rescued and protected Him. I want the same to be said of me. No matter how evil and ravaging my enemies are, they are no match for Jesus. With Your powerful hand, LORD God, You will destroy those who look to mere human beings (including themselves) for their rescue or reward. In contrast, You Yourself will satisfy the needs and desires of those who look to You for righteousness and their eternal future. May that be the controlling desire of all Your people (including me).
Dear Great, Awesome and Loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–God, thank You, Jesus, that You suffered all the following: being mocked, ridiculed, prosecuted, beaten, starved (deprived of water), tortured, and crucified. All of this was for my sake to save my soul from being separated from You forever in Hell. The most miraculous thing about it is that You did this on behalf of all human beings (including me). It was the ultimate display of Your vast mercy, grace, and love. There is nothing more important or powerful that I can do for those who are suffering than reading Psalm 35 aloud and pondering what persecuted Christians around the world might be thinking and feeling while being mocked, ridiculed, prosecuted, beaten, starved, tortured, or martyred for Christ. I take the occasion to do that now.
Come with great power and rescue my nation, even though we are sinners and have sinned greatly. Defend us with Your might–that same power that You used to raise Jesus from the dead. May the evil plans of those who are attacking Your people be turned against these enemies instead. Do as You promised and put an end to them. Then all who belong to You will praise Your name because You rescued us from troubles and helped us to triumph over our enemies.
Dear awesome Father God, may all those who belong to You boldly declare that You are their God. May my life demonstrate how a person who truly trusts and believes in You responds when we are in a dry and desolate place either physically, emotionally, socially or spiritually. I want to praise You, LORD God, in the midst of the difficulty and meditate on Your goodness day and night. We must hold tight to You and let You deal with those who trouble us. We trust You to do this according to Your good plans and purposes. I plead with You to rescue those who trust in You from all kinds of plots against us. As You rescue us, we will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
> 4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63?
With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will thank Jesus for all He suffered on my behalf.
- I will read Psalm 35 aloud and ponder the fact that persecuted Christians around the world are being mocked, ridiculed, persecuted, prosecuted, beaten, starved, tortured, or martyred for Christ or even for just trying to do what’s right.
- I will praise God even in the desert places of life. I will hold tight to Him because I know He is holding me (63:8).
- I will use Psalm 63 to pray for a person I know who is under attack, by either physical, political or spiritual enemies, because of his/her stand for Christ or on various other issues.
Share
I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.