Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man which imagine mischief in their heart; continually are they gather together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders poison is under their lips. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
I've mentioned several times the terrible calamities that the United States have suffered this year (2018). The California fires, the hurricanes and floods in Florida, Texas and the Caribbean. As awful as those are, they do not bother me as much as does the destruction that man causes; the mass murders, the internet security breaches, the constant gun shootings. We have to protect our homes and our identities from those who spend their time purposely planning how to steal, murder, defraud. . .
Our politicians lie so often we don't know who to believe anymore. They have "'sharpened their tongues . . . "
The psalmist speaks of war but there are many kinds of war. We can be at war with ourselves when we are not living up to our best. We are at war with others when we are feeling hostile toward them. War seeks its own so when we want to reduce or exterminate another person's beliefs or ideas or their right to justice is that not war?
Is the extreme partisanship between the Democrats and Republicans right now not an example of war, a hostility without justification by those we have entrusted to care for our needs.
But the worst of all are those who spend their time planning to do hurtful things to others - those "who purposed to overthrow my doings".
We live in a day an age where you cannot afford to be innocent or naive. There are too many that will take advantage of you.
We pray "deliver us from evil" because evil is real and like the psalmist we need the Lord's help.
No comments:
Post a Comment