Few of us have enemies in our lives the
way David did. This sculpting could represent David deep in thought. Perhaps he's wrestling with his emotions before God. We could say he's being naked before God with his feelings. Situations come up that cause us also to wrestle with our own emotions before God. Sometimes we too are faced with great opposition. Presently, most of you who are reading this are living in safety. I pray it remains so. But even if we are not personally faced with evil, we hear about it taking place around the world. And we are prone to get emotionally involved, drawing conclusions and forming opinions about people on one side of the issues or another. Perhaps David can be of help in showing us what our godly responses should be when evil may seem to triumph.
I am often reminded that the armor of God includes “having shod your feet with the preparation
of the Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). Why is this about our feet? And why does
it say “preparation”? It would seem that
in order to be sure that when something threatening in some way comes up
suddenly or unexpectedly, if we’re not prepared, we might react rather than
respond. We might be tempted to justify ourselves and attack back or resort to
something we would regret later. God has told us to walk (therefore, feet) in
peace with everyone we meet: “If it is possible, as much as
depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves….”
(Romans 12:18, 19). That just might take
some “prep” ahead of time so that we’re not vulnerable to being antagonized
should something come up. This could mean personally or it could mean something
happening on a larger scale, such as politically or socially. How are we going
to respond if things go awry in our personal world? Hopefully, it will never
happen. But just in case, it might be wise to consider now how to process our thoughts
should such an event come up.
It’s always good to look to someone who’s already been there
and done that when seeking for wisdom and insight, preferably someone who
hasn’t lost the t-shirt in the ordeal. Perhaps that’s why God told us so many stories
in the Bible, of how people handled things, both righteously and unrighteously,
so we could learn from them. David
certainly was one who knew what it was to have people coming against him, even
members of his own family – even his own son!
How do you handle that kind of heart ache? Through all David went through, he learned how
to hide himself in God. No matter what
was going on, even in his own sin, he found comfort, solace and release from
God.
In Psalm 5 David is processing with God his own thoughts
about the evil going on around him and directed toward him. He is talking to God about the ways of men,
good and evil, and their ultimate destinies. The fact is, he is surrounded by evil. The word for evil here in Hebrew is resha, which refers to evil as that
which is just plain wrong, especially morally wrong. It denotes the kind of
life that is antithetic to the very character of God. It includes dishonesty,
fraud, lawlessness, injustice, unlawful gain, wickedness and godlessness. These
are the kind of persons who are coming against David. But then, one kind of
evil seems to breed all the other kinds of evil. They often go together. The plight
of one who pursues these kinds of moral wrongs, David is assured before God, will
be destroyed by Him. They may look like they
are gaining the victory today, but their ultimate demise is sure.
David knows from Torah that no wickedness dwells with God. There
is nothing wicked, evil, morally wrong, unjust, dishonest, or unfair in God.
There is nothing unloving or unmerciful in God or that can dwell with God. He
is altogether good! Nor is there is any
chance, apart from true repentance, that any person involved in intentionally
causing pain or unhappiness to others, or who acts unethically or immorally, or
has a negative attitude toward God, will have any part with God – for God will
have no part with them. There is no place for them in God because they are
entirely unlike God. This should draw a clear line that going forward in a
meeting to “accept the Lord” at one time or having “prayed the sinners prayer”
yet without true heart-felt repentance for sin or change in someone’s life for
godliness, does not save one who continues in ungodly behavior. The fruit will
reveal the root.
According to Psalm 5, this exclusion from God’s presence
includes the braggart or the boastful. The Hebrew word there is hallel, from which we get the word Hallelujah which means praise to Yah. Hallel literally means to be bright,
brilliant or splendid; to glorify, to celebrate, to be famous and to be praised. The braggarts or boastful are those who are
self-praising. Oh dear. It is so subtle
the way we garner recognition for ourselves, isn’t it? Those who seek praise
for themselves, the psalm is saying, will not stand before God to whom all
praise is due. It is a rare exception that
any man is given praise in the Scriptures. Rather praise is used only pertaining
to God. We are so used to the acclaims
of men and giving people praise as if they accomplished something on their own
without God’s help, that we don’t even realize that praise is that which is
meant for God, not mankind. Sure, tell
someone you appreciate them or are thankful for them in some way, but give God
the praise. Tell them they are a blessing to you and you can see God in them.
That would seem to be the highest praise we can give one another.
Lucifer was the angel in charge of praise of God in heaven.
But he sought to co-opt it for himself. Since he can’t do that in an obvious
manner, he must divert it from God by deceit which he does by “inspiring”
mankind to praise or idolize each other, or at least certain individuals, in
one form or another. Consider how the
world has celebrated kings, conquerors and celebrities. How we idolize
superficial beauty or regard highly those with worldly power while giving no or
little thought to their true moral character. If we aren’t worshipping God, we will be
worshipping someone or something else. Humans were created by God
to be worshippers – of Him, so that He would bring us into His sheltering and glorious presence,
to bask in the wonder of Who He is with overflowing hearts that are responding
to His love for us. That’s what praise
is meant for!
David is reminding himself that even though there are those
who are coming against him, and though he has enemies and he is surrounded by
evil, God will declare them guilty. He will judge them. His enemies' intentions toward
him will not determine the outcome. They will not be his enemies forever. They
will fall because of their own schemes. Those who speak falsehood, or use
flattery to gain the favor of men, or those who lie and seek to deceive others
with untruths, are really seeking to set up some form of idolatry which is an
alternative to revering God. That would
seem to be the work of the father of lies, would it not? Their eventual end
will be that God will ultimately banish them, just as the father of lies has
been banished. The sense in these words is that they will be thrust out of His
presence. Can we even imagine the force behind that? Words like that make me tremble. I can think
of no more horrible fate than to be banished from Him. If you’ve read this far,
I’m sure you feel the same way.
Can you imagine that one day when every human being stands
before Yeshua in all His glory and authority, that there will be some who see His beauty, perfection and goodness
and realize they have lived a life of rebellion and self-will and all they have
boasted of is entirely futile, and having seen Him for Who He truly is, they
will then be thrust out of His presence –forever! Such will be their eternal destiny. Thank God He is merciful and there is ample
opportunity for true repentance in this lifetime. It is for this reason we are to pray for our
enemies. God Himself does not wish that any would perish. Nor should we. After all, He died for us while we were still
His enemies.
But David, who himself has repented of evil (of adultery,
intentional murder and deceit) knows full well God’s forgiveness and that those
who take refuge in God will find cause to rejoice, and that there is great rejoicing
for the person who finds refuge for his sin and weakness in God. By God’s lovingkindness, by His mercy and
grace, those who look to Him are able to reverently and gratefully enter into His
presence. While evildoers are far from
God, having no concept of His goodness, we who find shelter in Him are awed by
His benevolent goodness to us and His ultimate protection over us.
David knows his dependence upon
God to lead him in righteousness, to make His path straight before him. He
knows his dependence is upon God to keep him in righteousness – in tzdaqah.
Tzdaqah is a word used widely to mean such as rightness, virtue,
mercy, generosity, faithfulness, piety, justice and rectitude. It also speaks
of the godly relationship between God and His people, and between person to
person in ways of fairness. Tzdaqah in all of its many meanings stands
in total opposition to the ways of those who have rebelled against God.
That name or word Marah has several meanings. It can mean a heart
crushing experience of family turmoil, which gives us deeper insight into
Naomi’s emotional state. In this sense, it refers to personal suffering and
hardship, grief or disillusionment. But it can also refer to the Lord’s
judgment against those who deliberately disobey Him, who resist, despise,
dispute or quarrel with Him in bitterness against Him.
In opposition to people with that
kind of attitude are those who seek refuge in Him, who flee to Him for
protection, who confide in Him, hope in Him and put their trust in Him. Naomi
came to that place, but it wasn’t how she was feeling when she returned to
Israel. She found that God’s
faithfulness overcame her sense of grief and disillusionment.
It is those who love His name who
come to know His goodness toward them. This word love in Hebrew is ahav, which here has to do with the
tendermercies of God in His covenant relationship with His people, which we see
evidenced in God’s restoration of Naomi. It is the love of God above all else,
though it can also be extended to friendship or ties between those who know His
love and can extend it to one another. It
is those whom God will surround with favor as a shield, meaning He will close off
evil or harm by encircling them with His goodness. What a wonderful picture. The
favor of God surrounds us as a shield against wickedness and evil when our
trust is in Him.
Even if wickedness appears to
triumph for a season, we have the confidence that righteousness will triumph
and evil will fail. The wicked ones will be thrust from His presence but we
will remain in His protective grace forever.
Yes, we must pray for our enemies, with merciful intent that they will
repent, having the same heart for redemption that God has in Messiah Yeshua. But the message of Psalm 5 is one that should
strengthen us to look to God for the ultimate end of righteousness to be
ours. No matter what comes or what evil
may appear to triumph, as we put our trust in God to keep us always on His path
of righteousness, He will shelter us with His favor and keep us in His
presence, now and forever.
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