You Are Not the Only One

(Unless otherwise cited the scriptures in this devotional are from the King James version of the Bible. )

Context

The psalmist wrote this lamentation to express his feelings about the oppression of vulnerable and righteous people.

1. He calls on God to avenge their crimes.
2. He strongly declares that God is the Judge of the earth
3. Then iterates that the wicked foolishly believe that God does not know what they are doing.

The lament, outcry, uses the wisdom literature style and ideology to characterize evil people as fools and ends the outcry with a demonstration of his confidence in God as his deliverer from these “fools.”

Judge them oh God- the Only Judge of the world.

The psalmist makes it clear who he is praying to. Then he identifies the attributes of YHWH. Nothing and no one shines like the brilliance of YHWH. Remember that David is living during a period of human history where gods are everywhere. Their worshipers are declaring their attributes. David is saying, “That is what you think. Let me tell you about the Almighty and what He does for those who are filled with pride.” But then he switches his words to YHWH and asks Him why is he not coming to silence the wicked? The phrase “How long” is repeated several times in the Book of Psalms.

In each case that this phrase is used in the Book of Psalms, it does not refer to the power of David’s oppressors and or even their oppression. However, it is asking “when will YHWH” end the oppression. I know that right now, many of us are feeling the same way and are asking the same question about this pandemic. Just remember that diseases have almost wiped out animals and people before. Call upon the Lord to protect you. Believe as David did that His God is The Almighty. Then you can fall under the protection of The Lord, just like King David.

Characteristics of evil people

Once again, the psalmist is real about what he sees in people. Note the potency of the words that David uses in these verses. Not only is their stance filled with “arrogance” but, they also have the audacity to board about their behavior. They have no issues with “boasting” about what they have done, and or what they are going to do.

We know that the enemies of the children of God have no compassion for others at all. Just look around at how many dictators are ruling. Now measure the worse that they are using against these sentences in the Psalms 94. What do they say to you about how you should or should not respond to those words? See also Psalm 146:7a, 9ab; see also Ps. 68:5–6. Peter identifies the church as God’s heritage (1 Peter 5:3). Do you feel afflicted? Verse 6 details people whom we – the church – should be looking out for, and after, today. We seem to have forgotten that, but how can we do that directly, nationally that is? By paying our fair share of taxes!

Well, foolish people, pay attention

⁸ Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? ⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see? ¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?  Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

Why does the psalmist call these persons”fools”? Well, a wise person would have a fear of God. (See Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28). Fear of the Lord scriptures. They are worth reading. Then the psalmists used the strategy that the Lord used when he questioned Job about his affront, and whining, about why God needs to answer him about the calamity that he was experiencing. See Job 38. So, look at how the writer uses the human body parts to get his point across. We see the eyes, ears, the brain “senseless.” He is going to punish them because He is God. Their plotting, scheming, and plans “are futile“ pointless.

I am planted in your house Oh Lord

¹¹ The Lord knows all human plans;   he knows that they are futile. ¹² Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,   the one you teach from your law; ¹³ you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. ¹⁴ For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.¹⁵ Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,     and all the upright in heart will follow it.

It appears to me that the more chastening the Lord does of us. It shows that He loves us. He is sculpting us as near as possible into the image of His precious Son, Jesus. We are all created in the image of Jesus. We need to grow more like Him in every way. He suffered and we should expect to suffer. We must remember that tribulation comes to make us grow stronger in the Lord. We must all remember that our calling pretty much guarantees that we will supper. In spite of all that the Lord will never leave us to suffer alone. David talks about being a tree planted in the water. He is probably referencing the cedars of Lebanon that were used as a construction material (1 Kgs 5), and the palm that were the decorative symbols in the (1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35; 7:36). We are like that same tree. Stay rooted and grounded in the Lord.

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? ¹⁷ Unless the Lord had given me help,
    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. ¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.

The church must remember during these dark days that we do not stand alone. The Apostle Paul wrote about a time when none stood with him. He felt alone, but he was not alone because the Lord was with him . 2 Tim. 4:16 “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”. So today the church may have none to rise up and stand by her, but the Lord.

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Dan. 12:1 NIV

He [Jesus] will rise and stand up for them, and fight their battles; and overcome the beast and false prophet, with the kings of the earth . It will happen in Revelation. We are entering into the period of the last days my friends. Rise up. Stand firm and receive the deliverance of the Lord. Stand closely together and protect each other through prayer and fasting.

²⁰ Can a corrupt throne be allied with you— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? ²¹ The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. ²² But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

It doesn’t matter what the wicked do. The psalmist knows that the Lord is a formidable opponent, and He will never lose a battle. You cannot crush the Rock of Gibraltar.
²³ He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness;  the Lord, our God, will destroy them.

This is not a threat. It is a promise. He will repay them. Scripture says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord” Romans12:9

Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding. He will direct your path.