This morning as I read Psalm 64, the Lord reminded me of how important it is to pray for those who serve the Lord in this evil world. The Psalmist was in the crosshairs of assassins but their plots ultimately failed because of the Lord’s intervention.
The Psalmist prayed to God, saying, “Hear my voice, O God.” He asked God to preserve him from the fear of the enemy. An influencer for faith in God does not want to be silenced by fear. He asked God to hide him “from the secret plots of the wicked” and “from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity.” He compared their tongues to swords and their bitter words to arrows. “They shoot in secret at the blameless.” Like hunters in camouflage! Like stabbers in the back! “They talk of laying snares secretly.” They delight in a “perfect shrewd scheme.” [1]
The Lord says, “they lie in wait for their own blood.” [2]
The Psalmist was confident of the Lord’s deliverance. He declared, “God shall shoot at them with an arrow.” “He will make them stumble over their own tongue.” “Suddenly they shall be wounded. All who see them shall flee away.” The greater outcome will be that “All men shall fear and shall declare the work of God.” “They shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” [3]
Mordecai overheard two men plotting to assassinate his king and notified the authorities about it. The king’s life was preserved, and the two assassins executed. David inquired of the Lord to reveal to him the plans of King Saul against him. The Lord led David to safety. The Lord revealed the plans of evil men to slay Jeremiah and Paul so that they escaped from them. [4]
The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” [5]
Yes, being a servant of the Lord involves danger but also great blessings.
The Psalmist said, “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” [6]
Standing up and speaking for God exposes the kind of metal we are made of, especially when or if we suffer attacks from evil people as a result. But the Lord is no man’s debtor. The Psalmist testifies that the “Lord brought us out to rich fulfillment.”
God promises in His Word to “Surely, scorn the scornful but give grace to the humble.” [7]
One messenger told his persecutors, “Don’t threaten me with heaven.” Paul wrote, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His [Christ’s] death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” [8]
Let us yield ourselves to serve the Lord and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world that are doing the same.
Paul wrote, “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” [9]
Serving the Lord is better than serving sin. Paul commended the Christians in Rome for serving the Lord. He wrote, “God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Paul often introduced himself to others as a slave of the Lord. He was happy be bound to the Lord rather than addicted to sin. He urged his readers to present their members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” [10]
Paul asked them, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” [11]
What did the angels sing to the shepherds the night that Jesus was born? They sang, “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” [12] We, who serve the Lord, have a higher government to serve than the ones here on earth, so let us put our hand to the plow for peace and goodwill among all people, and let us pray for leaders and other servants who are working for the same results.
[1] Psalm 64:1-6
[2] Proverbs 1:18
[3] Psalm 64:7-10
[4] 1 Samuel 23:9-11, Esther 6:2, Jeremiah 20:10, Acts 23:16-22
[5] Proverbs 3:5-6
[6] Psalm 66:10-12
[7] Proverbs 3:34
[8] Romans 6:5
[9] Romans 6:12-13
[10] Romans 6:17-19
[11] Romans 6:20-22
[12] Luke 2:14
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