Psalm 140-142, Mark 5: I will begin with a disclaimer, I am in a great place now and am not experiencing what you are about to read, but I know there are many that are. These words may not apply to you today, if so, thank the Lord. If they do, hang in there, this too shall pass and with time hearts are healed.
David found himself in these Psalms being pursued. You have probably never been physically pursued to the point that people wanted to take your physical life. However you might have been in a situation where you felt like people were out to get you or take you down. It may be looked more like they listened for your every word trying to take your words and turn them. You guarded everything you said and felt like you walked on egg shells in every conversation fearing their ability to turn it. Or maybe in your work environment you knew that someone was just waiting for you to slip up so they could get rid of you. You had to constantly not just do your job, but make sure every I was dotted and every T crossed fearing they would take your job. Or your pursuers may have laid in wait watching your behavior lurking for an opportunity to prove what was in their heart was in yours. Their anger and bitterness crouched at the door watching for opportunity to write on social media about you. I think you get the picture. David knew these kinds of people as did Jesus. So what is one to do when encountering them? Our Psalms today will help you.
Take them to the Lord in prayer:
Psalm 140:1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and under their lips is the venom of asps.
Watch what you say. They are looking for a weakness.
Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
Don’t yield to the temptation to become like them.
Psalm 141:4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!
Have godly friends who will call you out when needed.
Psalm 141: 5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Keep your eyes focus on Jesus!
Psalm 141:8But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
Last but not least don’t yield to the temptation to take revenge. God’s revenge is much better than ours!
Psalm 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
If you go on reading in some of the Psalms I believe that revenge is something that David prayed about often, but He allowed God to take revenge for him and in the end God always gave the victory. He did these things for David and He will do it for you as well. Be strong my friend. God heals many of those hurts as you turn to Him and release the anger, hurt and bitterness keeping your eyes on Him. Life isn’t fair, but God is good!