"For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you." Psalm 5:9-10
Should this be our prayer today? In this part of the Psalm, David again describes the evildoers. Then he makes a request to God to "cast them out." The assumption is made that these evildoers will not repent or seek forgiveness. Christians should assume that God can save anyone...even those who seem unforgivable to us. God can soften the heart of the hardest person you know. Remember how Christ himself responded to those who persecuted Him. He did not retaliate. Also keep in mind scripture such as these:
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" Romans 12:19
I don't believe that God wishes for us to desire bad things to happen to anyone, even our worst enemies, or even in private prayer. God desires for us to witness to everyone and hate no one. This can be difficult, especially when people are directly criticizing God, or your Christianity or beliefs. But we should desire for these people to become like-minded and to love God as much as we do. Asking that they be cast out will not help that happen.
Now, I'm not saying that David is sinning here by praying for the destruction of his enemies. David lived under the law and Christ had not yet come to save sinners. In the OT, there are several prayers for the destruction of the enemies of God's people. And God responds. I doubt He would respond so positively to prayers made sinfully.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Thank God for Answers to Prayer
"Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:1-3
Here is another Psalm of David written at a time when he was faced by "bloodthirsty and deceitful" persecutors. We're not told exactly when David wrote this Psalm, however, just in this opening portion of the Psalm we see how David cries out anxiously and expectantly. He has an urgent prayer, but he also expects that it will be answered. He trusts in God to help him.
Now, let's get into some translation notes. The ESV renders a portion of verse 3 as "in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you..." Most other translations say something more like "in the morning I will direct [it or my prayer] to you..." The ESV study notes say that the Hebrew here is difficult. It could be translated either way but the ESV translates it as it does because of two facts: the psalmist is writing this in the morning and in verse 7 he mentions entering the Lord's house and bowing down toward the Lord's holy temple. I'm not sure which translation is correct or even if it matters. Prayer can be sacrificial. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand. Also, we should sacrifice our own pride in prayer. We should sacrifice our time to pray. We should sacrifice our own sinful desires to pray. When faced with a temptation, we should pray.
Finally, in verse 3, after mentioning this prayer or sacrifice, David says that he will "watch," or "look up," or "wait in expectation." After we pray, we should be watchful for answers to our prayers. It is prudent to pray when faced with decisions (big or small) in life. We need Christ's direction in our lives. We want to live within His will and, therefore, we should ask what that is. When you are watchful for an answer to prayer and open to what God puts in front of you, it will make these decisions much easier.
I remember last year I was considering an opportunity to go back to work part time. I was only going to be working 10 hours a week but most of that was going to have to be at the office and not at home with Alex. This wasn't the ideal situation that I was looking for, but it would provide us with a little more money and my sister would be able to watch Alex for me while I was at the office. This would have even provided her with some additional pay (which would have been very helpful at the time for her as well). It seemed like everything was pointing toward me returning to work. Peter and I prayed about it and talked about it and had pretty much come to the decision that I would do it. The night before I was going to give my employer word of my decision, I had an OVERWHELMING feeling that I should NOT do this. I looked at Peter and simply said "I don't want to do it" and he said "Then don't...we'll be fine, Jenny." So, the next day, instead of calling in and starting a new 10 hr a week job, I called in and told them that I would be sending a letter of resignation that afternoon. That's what I did and I can't say that I have regretted that decision once.
Here is another Psalm of David written at a time when he was faced by "bloodthirsty and deceitful" persecutors. We're not told exactly when David wrote this Psalm, however, just in this opening portion of the Psalm we see how David cries out anxiously and expectantly. He has an urgent prayer, but he also expects that it will be answered. He trusts in God to help him.
Now, let's get into some translation notes. The ESV renders a portion of verse 3 as "in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you..." Most other translations say something more like "in the morning I will direct [it or my prayer] to you..." The ESV study notes say that the Hebrew here is difficult. It could be translated either way but the ESV translates it as it does because of two facts: the psalmist is writing this in the morning and in verse 7 he mentions entering the Lord's house and bowing down toward the Lord's holy temple. I'm not sure which translation is correct or even if it matters. Prayer can be sacrificial. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand. Also, we should sacrifice our own pride in prayer. We should sacrifice our time to pray. We should sacrifice our own sinful desires to pray. When faced with a temptation, we should pray.
Finally, in verse 3, after mentioning this prayer or sacrifice, David says that he will "watch," or "look up," or "wait in expectation." After we pray, we should be watchful for answers to our prayers. It is prudent to pray when faced with decisions (big or small) in life. We need Christ's direction in our lives. We want to live within His will and, therefore, we should ask what that is. When you are watchful for an answer to prayer and open to what God puts in front of you, it will make these decisions much easier.
I remember last year I was considering an opportunity to go back to work part time. I was only going to be working 10 hours a week but most of that was going to have to be at the office and not at home with Alex. This wasn't the ideal situation that I was looking for, but it would provide us with a little more money and my sister would be able to watch Alex for me while I was at the office. This would have even provided her with some additional pay (which would have been very helpful at the time for her as well). It seemed like everything was pointing toward me returning to work. Peter and I prayed about it and talked about it and had pretty much come to the decision that I would do it. The night before I was going to give my employer word of my decision, I had an OVERWHELMING feeling that I should NOT do this. I looked at Peter and simply said "I don't want to do it" and he said "Then don't...we'll be fine, Jenny." So, the next day, instead of calling in and starting a new 10 hr a week job, I called in and told them that I would be sending a letter of resignation that afternoon. That's what I did and I can't say that I have regretted that decision once.
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