LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Friday 5th November 2021
DELIVER US FROM EVIL PEOPLE
Scripture Reading: Psalm 5
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You. Psalm 5:9-10
It is apparent that David wrote Psalm 5 at a time when his enemies were attacking him maliciously with false accusations. David saw those who were against him as disloyal and unfaithful. They were people close to him or people who relied on him as their leader. Consider the complaints that David made against his assailants.
He said those who were against him were:
- Destructive: ‘Their inward part is destruction’. That means their intentions were hostile.
- Deadly: ‘Their throat is an open tomb’. They could slander a person to ruin.
- Deceptive: ‘They flatter with their tongue.’ These people were hypocritical and cunning.
Having mentioned the sins of his enemies to the Lord, David petitioned the Lord to pronounce them guilty.
David saw what his enemies were doing against him as a rebellion against God. The future of God’s great plan of salvation rested with David and his descendants. Anything that disrupted David’s dynasty was an act against God’s plans. This was not a personal attack but an attack against David’s calling as king and his place in God’s plans.
Prayers that petition God to punish our enemies are known as imprecatory (curse) prayers. Among some Christians, they are called, ‘dangerous’ prayers. Questions remain concerning the role of such prayers for the New Testament believer. In the light of what Christ taught in the New Testament, should we pray such ‘dangerous’ prayers against those who offend us? That is not the example of Christ.
The Lord Jesus asked us to petition our Father to deliver us from evil. That is as far as we can pray when people seek our harm. We can pray for the Lord’s deliverance and trust Him to deliver us in the way that brings glory to His name.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the Great Deliverer. Deliver me from every trap of wickedness that has been set for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen