More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies.
When things go wrong it feels as if I'm isolated and against the whole world. That the things lined up on the other side far outnumber my side. The problems are so big and I'm so small.
But isn't that to my advantage?
I never ran faster in track when I didn't run harder. I never got stronger when I didn't lift more than I did before. I might have complained to the coach about doing a second set of 400meter sprints. But, I wouldn't get to finals without them.
So as we look out at our enemies.
They may seem numerous. The sky darker than you have ever seen. The wind stronger. And the air colder.
Look at your eternal Coach.
He wouldn't ask you to face this if He didn't know you could handle it. He will be beside you with what you need to finish. Encouragement. Nourishment. Comfort.
And a good solid yell for you to get moving at times.
Those four words from my youngest son taught me so much about the LORD. We were in the kitchen with him sitting on the counter top and me standing beside him making the snack. He was talking and I was doing the typical head nods and grunts of acknowledgment. But, I wasn't looking at him as he talked to me.
He reached up and grabbed my face with both hands. And turning my head to him he told me: "Daddy! Look at me!". I will remember that until the day I die.
And what an amazing God we have.
Where we can reach out, grab Him, and cry out: Daddy!
You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. ... The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
When I was in High School it was 'cool' to wear t-shirts with symbols of the Soviet Union. It still is today I suppose.
The sad part of this is that no one ... NO ONE ... in history murdered more people than the Soviets. Upwards of 60 million men, women and children were crushed under the wheels of that monstrosity.
Though that nation has been destroyed, and someday will only be remembered as a byword, men still lust after the same evil. They lay the same nets as the monsters of the past. But, do not expect them to succeed forever. The evil that they seek after will come back upon them. And it is not surprising that those who choose to surround themselves with evil will have that evil destroy them. It is what evil does.
Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!
... who does not put out his money at interest ...
What real profit is there in doing good only to get a return? There is no gain towards becoming a better person if we only give to get a tax write-off. Or if you give to get the accolades of praise.
Don't give anything of yourself ... time, money, sweat, blood ... with the understanding you will get it back and more. Give because it the right thing to do.
