Psalm 141:4

Psalm 141:4

The delicacies of evildoers

There are countless enemy attempts to disrupt our spiritual lives every day! The world around us is choc-a-bloc with lures, temptations and urgings to join the ranks of the wicked. Our modern-day culture is probably worse than any that has ever existed with its multi-media technologies, the phones and devices that fill people’s days and the giant HD television screens that occupy most houses. The content of these things is rarely for our good but rather designed to lure us into sin or to water down sin. It’s one thing being aware of this and another to stop our hearts being drawn in. Why else would so many people be drawn to watch pornography, or violent movies or ghoulish horror? Why else would large chunks of our society believe the deceptions and lies that are paraded in front of us by seemingly legitimate broadcasters? The problem with all of this subtle strategy, devised in the mind of a deadly foe, is that many are so convinced by what they see and hear that they are drawn into the wicked deeds of their tempters. David obviously recognised this problem in his day and was honest enough to plead to the Lord to protect him from evil. Maybe we all might avoid long sessions of confession and repentance if we had prayed before the event that God would protect our hearts and save us from being engulfed by the wicked ways of evildoers.

It's evident that much of what entices people is indeed very attractive and designed to appeal to our senses and particularly our sinful desires. David asks the Lord to guard him from such things, “Do not let me eat their delicacies.”  In other words, do not let these temptations enter my mind and my thoughts, keep me from pondering the delicacies that are offered by my enemies. Keep me pure and holy Lord. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more

Psalm 119:87

  Psalm 119:87 Almost but not quite If only we knew the circumstances that form the back story to this Psalm! What happened to the psalm-writer to make him feel so vulnerable? Who exactly were these antagonists and persecutors and how did they “almost wipe our friend from the earth”? We’ve already speculated that he must have been a priest or maybe a member of the royal family for his suffering seems to have wide-ranging and public consequences. It seems that there had been a murderous plot on his life and now the author admits that whilst he nearly died, he still clings tenaciously to the precepts of the Lord his God. Precepts are the laws and commands that come from the lips of overseers, in other words, the writer believes that the Lord is watching over him and that he is safeguarded and protected by the words that come from His guardian.  There is a vital lesson here for us, there will be times when, at the very least, our reputations are under threat; for some who believe...
Read more

Psalm 119:96

Psalm 119:96 Beyond perfection What a curious verse! What does the writer mean when he says,  “To all perfection I see a limit, but Your commands are boundless?”  Perhaps this is better translated, “ Everything I see has its limits, but Your commands have none ”, or “ Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limits. ”  It’s a deeply philosophical point isn’t it, that when we consider perfection, we have to admit that it can go no further, it can be improved no more. If something is perfect there is nothing more to add, it cannot be bettered. In that sense, perfection has its boundaries and its limitations. The writer is telling us that God’s commands are limitless, they have no boundaries; the word used here is translated “broad” in some translations. His commands go beyond perfection! It feels like we are standing on a beach somewhere, gazing at the vastness of the ocean before us and pondering its beginning and its end, or gazing at the night sky with i...
Read more