| Isaiah 8:1-9:21; II Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5
“Now, it is not an enemy who insults me – otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me – otherwise I could hide from him. But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend! We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God…Though many are against me, He will redeem me from the battle unharmed…Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken…When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts are against me for evil…You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: GOD IS FOR ME.” (Psalm 55:12-14, 18, 22; 56:3-5, 8-9)
Yep. Many people have shut themselves off from relationships due to the issue in this Psalm. The Psalmist says that he expects to be cut by an enemy. He’s mentally prepared for that blow, but not for an attack from a friend. How devastating to have your life wrapped around another’s only to be betrayed. He and his friend were tight, they even went to church together you know. Everybody’s gonna believe that what your “friend” is saying is true, after all, they do know you better than anyone else. You wonder if they’ll tell private things, make fun of you, expose your weaknesses. Turn you out. My goodness makes you want to shut down and avoid close relationships altogether. But God knows all about betrayal, it happens to Him all of the time, however, His love and faithfulness override His emotion. Instead of shutting down, He gives everyone an equal opportunity as well knowing that not everyone is going to reject Him.
There will never be a being closer and more understanding than God. Not only will God not betray you, He has given a part of Himself for you. “…that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-26)
God knew that if given a free will His creation would turn on Him. Before the foundation of the world, the unified Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, prepared a way for us to be forgiven and to be reunited with Him. It took personal sacrifice on His behalf. He sent His son Jesus Christ, who voluntarily laid aside His deity and came in the limited and humble form of a human. Born like us, raised like us, experiencing betrayal, mental anguish and physical pain like us and ultimately dying like us. No one can ever accuse God of not understanding. But His Word declares that all of us have done Him wrong and all of us must receive by faith what He did for us through the blood He shed. Sounds gory, I know, but it is what it is. The only way to cover and annihilate our sin in order to get us back was for Him to personally give Himself for us. He did this for a people that for the most part could care less. Now that’s love, to see beyond a person’s faults to their need.
The Psalmist wanted God to wipe out his enemies, but God sees beyond our human frailties and wants to restore us. God will present the way of righteousness to everyone (even our enemies) but it is our choice what path we choose. If we (or our enemies) reject God’s hope and plan, then we will be submitting ourselves to His wrath. Choose life, choose God and, like God, take the high road with people understanding that we are all flawed. Always know that God IS FOR those who love, respect and seek Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. God has not forgotten your name.
PRAYER:
Lord, I love You so much. I cannot hardly believe Your generous heart toward people. Like the Psalmist, when they hurt me part of me just wants to see it come back on them. But I choose to forgive and to entrust their destiny into Your hands. I know You are fair and impartial. Who knows what those people have walked through in their lives for them to treat people like they do. I just know that I have You and I am a grateful soul. I let them go. “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay.” (Romans 12:19) Get em Tiger! I loose them into Your hands. I pray for my enemies, even the ones who were my dear friends. I ask You to help them get straight and if they refuse, I pray You will deal gently with them to bring them to repentance. I love You Lord, I am Yours, take care of me like You do. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. |
