The psalmist recognizes the supremacy and sovereignty of God. That is a good example to us. Yet there is repeated cry to crush the enemy. This adoration and awe is not the end. He is questioning why God is holding back and not making himself known. There is evil out there, and the psalmist is imploring God to take back control.
Our God is certainly capable of just that, however, even in our day we see corruption and ungodliness around us at every turn. I thought corruption and evil was bad in the United States, since moving to Mexico I have not seen it firsthand, thankfully, but am learning that corruption here is rampant as well. We could, like the psalmist, cry out for God to fix this broken world, and I’m sure we often do.
While God is in control, he allows us the free will to make choices and chart our own course through life. It is up to us then to look to his guidance and try to discern his will for us. His plans for us are to much greater than what we could ever dream, we just need to give him reign in our lives. Therein lies the key, give God back the control.
But what about evil? How do we protect ourselves? Is it enough to just wish it would cease? As we read the psalmist’s cry, it only confirms that evil has been around a long time, has a foothold here on earth, and I’m sure there isn’t much we can do about it. God has, in all his wisdom, allowed it to be. For us, we have the choice to run from it or be overtaken by it. Our prayer should always be, “Deliver me!”
As followers of Christ, we also have the knowledge and assurance that the victory has been won. Jesus has paid the price and broke the chains of sin and death for us. Does evil still exist? Yes. It even tempted our Lord Jesus, but Jesus overcame. He gave us a marvelous example to follow.
Let’s pray. Lord God – there is so much evil in this world, I pray that by your power I will be delivered. Thank you for the assurance that you are in control and love us. Cover my heart and keep me pure. May those that do not know you sense the doom they are facing to help soften their hearts to be open to following you. Use me as a beacon of your light to give others hope that can only be from a life walked with you. May I sizzle with your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
How might God use us as his “soldiers” in the battle against evil in this world? Certainly we cannot humanly overcome evil in general. But we can be used in our own time and place against particular evils that present themselves.
Great question and conversation starter! We need to be prayer warriors and defeat evil in it’s tracks. Call out the evil one stand on the truth, Jesus is Lord and has won the battle!