Sunday Devotional 12th February, 2023
by Bruce Billington
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we will continue to explore Psalm 37 – a Psalm of David.
Psalm 37:12–15 – The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slay those who are upright in conduct. Their sword will enter their own heart, And their bows will be broken.Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked.
Why is it that the wicked plots against the righteous? The answer is that it is part of living in a fallen world. There is enmity between Satan and the seed of the woman – which is us. It will never be fair and upfront. He will use stealth of the kind that can only be discerned by the Holy Spirit. It will frequently come through other people, organisations, and institutions and even nations. But just when this could well lead us to despair, we read the next verse (V13).
Here we read that the Lord laughs at these efforts. Why? Because He will only tolerate it to a certain point and then He will attack our enemies Himself. He will turn their evil attempts to strive with us (and Him) back on themselves.
As a result, we are to rest in the Lord and have patience as we seek His deliverance. This does not mean we are to do nothing. We have been given authority to rebuke the devil whenever he obstructs us or makes any attempt to take us out of the will of God (1 Peter 5).
Paul also tells us to pull down strongholds and everything raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). We need to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit and act accordingly.
But the reason we can do all of this and remain in a place of peace is because our God governs every aspect of our life and will not allow us to be treated in any way that is detrimental to us. Although we may not be conscious of it, He oversees us with a “don’t mess with My kids” attitude and promises that the sword used against us will enter the enemy’s own heart. As a result, we are to look beyond the immediate injustices we face and look instead to God’s promised end for both the wicked and the righteous.
During such difficult times it is good for us to pray that God would enlighten us by calling us up to see things in the way He does, so that His light may shine on each situation we face, even in the times of hardship and persecution. As challenging as this may be, we need to see that the promises of God are not just for times of peace and happiness – but that they are also to be embraced during time of severity and conflict even if under the threat of death. Our God is way more than being equal to all these situations and, whatever the outcome, holds us dearly in His everlasting arms and promises us that nothing – even death – will separate us from His love. It is from this relationship that we are able to find peace in all aspects of life.
Although verse 16 seems to speak of material wealth or possessions there can be no doubt that it also refers to the wonderful all-encompassing blessing of God which truly enriches the righteous; for even if they may for a time, live from hand to mouth, they are satisfied with their lot, knowing that their true wealth far exceeds any material blessing. Speaking to this John Calvin says,
“But if this doctrine be deeply fixed in the hearts of the faithful, as soon as they shall have learned to rely upon the divine blessing, the delight and joy which they will experience from their little store shall be equal to the magnanimity with which they shall look down, as it were from an eminence, upon the vast treasures in which the ungodly glory. The best consolation which we could have in our infirmity is, that God himself upholds and strengthens us.”
God bless you.