God’s Truth for Trying Times - 2/19/21

We need God’s truth in trying times. Read the Scripture passage, think about what it is saying, then pray; by yourself or with your household. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

READ: Psalm 109:1-15

"Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! May his days be few; may another take his office! May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow! May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children! May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation! May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!" [Psa 109:1-15 ESV]

CONSIDER: Imprecatory Psalms are hard for us to read. We don't understand how the Psalmist can say such things. But it is all wrapped up in the mercy and love of God. Because God is perfect, he must punish in. And because we are aware, if we did not say something we would be complicit. It is because God is holy that we acknowledge our sin to him and we acknowledge that he is the one that punishes sin. Praise God that he punished our sin on the cross in Christ.

THINK: What does this declare about God? What are God’s people being called to do? What assurance is given? How does the Word of God transform our hearts and lives and relationships?