God Protects The Righteous

³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
³³ but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the
wicked or let them be condemned when brought
to trial.

Treacherous Traps

Does it ever feel like evil people want you dead?  They probably do.  David expressed this feeling in this passage.  Saul’s men were told to find him and kill him.  David was on the run for many years.  Throughout history, there has been great effort and expense put forward to stifle the truth.

Saul of Tarsus was one such person.  He received authorization to put to death any Christians he found.  Stephen was stoned to death under Saul’s supervision.  The people who are doing this need to be prayed over in the same way that both Christ and Stephen prayed for them:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

In a world that is growing darker with evil by the moment, we must remember that the darkness hates the light, and will do anything it can to extinguish the light.  And while this is a terrible tragedy that is occurring, we must remember one thing:  God is sovereign.

Powerful Protection

God is also holy and just.  He is our fortress, our strong tower.  The righteous run to Him, and He protects them.  David stresses here that God will not allow all of His righteous to be in the power of the wicked; He will deliver us from the wicked.  He delivered David from Goliath; Peter from the Romans; Daniel from the lions; Paul from those who vowed to fast until Paul was dead.  There are many other examples of this.

Also remember that sometimes God delivers us when He allows the wicked to overcome us.  Many were crucified, beheaded, tortured to death, and suffered greatly at the hands of the wicked.  Yet God delivered them in death to Jesus, where they now wait patiently until the return of Jesus Christ in glory.  God delivered Jesus from the hands of His accusers in a trial of travesty that resulted in His death on a cross.  But God used that to bring more glory to Himself through the resurrection.  Regardless of whether you are delivered in this life or the next, God WILL deliver you through it.

A Qualifying Question

Let’s ask a question:  Am I trusting God to deliver me through my trials?

A short prayer of preparation:

Father in Heaven, You and only You can deliver me from those who seek my destruction.  Remember me this day, Lord God, and provide me with Your peace that defies all understanding.  Help me to endure the indignities of slander, libel, abuse, and if needed, even death itself.  Strengthen me that I would be able to endure, and to praise You throughout all of it.  Regardless of the loss that I have in this life, nothing compares to the riches I have gained in being found in Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Guard my heart so that I will not become embittered at the ones who seek my destruction, and lay traps before me.  Vindicate me, Oh God, in the presence of my enemies, and forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.  Amen.

Want more?  Why not try A. B. Simpson or A. W. Tozer?