Psalm 17:12 “…the wicked who assail me…are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.”
[Our powerful enemies, Satan and his hordes, are like a beast desperate for food: dangerous, destructive and determined–burning churches, killing Christians, persecuting children. At present there are an estimated 200 million Christians who are suffering ongoing persecution. Satan’s attacks are terrifying and terrible, he is too strong for us. We are in desperate need of help before they overcome us.] So it is today in our country as many are doing evil things, trying to force us to join them. Satan is clever and powerful, but God is wise and much more powerful. We can trust Him.
Psalm 17:13 “Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;”
[In your might, Lord, you can easily win this battle. You are the Creator of the universe, Breather of the stars, Bringer of the dawn, Captain of history and Ender of time. You are strong enough to deliver us from any enemy.]
“rescue me from the wicked by your sword.”
[No one can withstand the onslaught of your sword of Truth and the Power of your right hand, Jesus. As John wrote in Rev. 19:11.21, “…there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war….[those who fought against God] were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse….”]
You have given us hope that justice will be done; it may not be now or in our lifetime, but it will come. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, put it this way: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.” Just like today!
He went on to say “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.” But then when he went to worship he got God’s perspective, when “I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.”
Justice will come; we can rest in that and trust God no matter what goes on. He is our refuge and strength, we need to take shelter in that truth.
