Thursday 12 August, 2021

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.” 1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! 5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. 6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, 7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

This Psalm contrasts those who choose to do evil, who are prepared to lie to get ahead and those who choose a different path, a righteous path.  God will have His way even if those who perpetrate evil seemingly do well for a time – there is a reckoning – for all and those who have done evil will get the justice their deeds deserve.

All too often we do not factor into our lives God’s judgement.  We do not do well if we lose sight of God’s desire for righteousness and His final reckoning for people.  Keeping the sense of God’s judgement in our hearts and minds is a significant guard against hopelessness and sin as this sense of awe for God motivates us, His people, to obey Him and to live well with Him.

Father, help me to keep a sense of Your righteousness and judgment in my heart and mind at all times.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta