April 19: God, are You avoiding me?
Psalm 10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Psalm 10
1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself, [veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble (distress and desperation)?
2 The wicked in pride and arrogance hotly pursue and persecute the poor; let them be taken in the schemes which they have devised.
3 For the wicked man boasts (sings the praises) of his own heart’s desire, and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord.
4 The wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God [so He never punishes].
5 His ways are grievous [or persist] at all times; Your judgments [Lord] are far above and on high out of his sight [so he never thinks about them]; as for all his foes, he sniffs and sneers at them.
6 He thinks in his heart, I shall not be moved; for throughout all generations I shall not come to wantor be in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity).
8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he slays the innocent; he watches stealthily for the poor (the helpless and unfortunate).
9 He lurks in secret places like a lion in his thicket; he lies in wait that he may seize the poor (the helpless and the unfortunate); he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 [The prey] is crushed, sinks down; and the helpless falls by his mighty [claws].
11 [The foe] thinks in his heart, God has quite forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see [my deed].
12 Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble [patient and crushed].
13 Why does the wicked [man] condemn (spurn and renounce) God? Why has he thought in his heart, You will not call to account?
14 You have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness until You find no more.
16 The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish out of His land.
17 O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.
Just hold on! Your deliverer is coming! God is faithful! The fatherless and oppressed WILL see justice!
Psalm 10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Psalm 10
1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself, [veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble (distress and desperation)?
2 The wicked in pride and arrogance hotly pursue and persecute the poor; let them be taken in the schemes which they have devised.
3 For the wicked man boasts (sings the praises) of his own heart’s desire, and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord.
4 The wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God [so He never punishes].
5 His ways are grievous [or persist] at all times; Your judgments [Lord] are far above and on high out of his sight [so he never thinks about them]; as for all his foes, he sniffs and sneers at them.
6 He thinks in his heart, I shall not be moved; for throughout all generations I shall not come to wantor be in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity).
8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he slays the innocent; he watches stealthily for the poor (the helpless and unfortunate).
9 He lurks in secret places like a lion in his thicket; he lies in wait that he may seize the poor (the helpless and the unfortunate); he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 [The prey] is crushed, sinks down; and the helpless falls by his mighty [claws].
11 [The foe] thinks in his heart, God has quite forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see [my deed].
12 Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble [patient and crushed].
13 Why does the wicked [man] condemn (spurn and renounce) God? Why has he thought in his heart, You will not call to account?
14 You have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness until You find no more.
16 The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish out of His land.
17 O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.
Just hold on! Your deliverer is coming! God is faithful! The fatherless and oppressed WILL see justice!
Psalm 7: 1-5
The Message (MSG)
A David Psalm
7 1-2 God! God! I am running to you for dear life;
the chase is wild.
If they catch me, I’m finished:
ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,
dragged into the forest and left
unlooked for, unremembered.
the chase is wild.
If they catch me, I’m finished:
ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,
dragged into the forest and left
unlooked for, unremembered.
3-5 God, if I’ve done what they say—
betrayed my friends,
ripped off my enemies—
If my hands are really that dirty,
let them get me, walk all over me,
leave me flat on my face in the dirt.
betrayed my friends,
ripped off my enemies—
If my hands are really that dirty,
let them get me, walk all over me,
leave me flat on my face in the dirt.
If you want deliverence from your enemies, first you must search your heart! As David did! Is it you? Is your heart right?
I thought of six possible reasons you may be experiencing hurtful behaviour from others. I'm sure there are more.
I thought of six possible reasons you may be experiencing hurtful behaviour from others. I'm sure there are more.
1. Some people are evil to the core. Evil to everyone. Their motives are just that. Evil. So don't take their evil actions personally. Love your enemies. Yes, it's right in the Word. Pray for your enemies. Pray that God will either change them or take them out of your life. And just wait, and more importantly, trust Him. He is for YOU.
Matthew 5:43-48
New International Version (NIV)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.2. At times, we are hurt by good people making a mistake. Temporarily being just plain evil. At times, someone will treat you poorly. Or is completely unsupportive. This doesn't mean this person IS evil. He or she may be believing negative talk about you. Or he or she may have a problem with you. For whatever reason. This person may get along very well with others, but you seem to be a thorn in their flesh. You may NEVER know what the challenge is. Maybe he or she doesnt even know either. Be friendly and polite. Pray. Let go and let God.
3. Sometimes we are hurt by someone who is hurting. Maybe you are dealing with someone who is deeply hurt and is responding negatively towards you because of their past or current pain. Maybe you remind this person of someone who has hurt them. Be friendly, polite. Pray. Let go and let God.
3. You've sinned. Sometimes, you've completely messed up! Maybe you've given in to the flesh. Or you've spoken words that you can't take back. Maybe you said or did something hurtful or shameful a very long time ago (or more recently) that this person still remembers. Apologize. Be polite. Pray. Give it to God. Wait.
4. You've made a mistake, and not necessarily from an evil intent. You acted or spoke foolishly without thinking things through. Sincerely apologizing is all you can do. Be polite. Pray. Let go and let God.
5. You're misunderstood. At times, your heart is pure and your motives are right. Something you said or did is simply misunderstood. David was misunderstood. A lot. Pray. Let go and let God.
6. You are overreacting. My honest friend (real friends are honest friends) once told me, "Don't take it personally!" So I made the choice to let it go and move on. Sure, it may have been meant as a personal attack on me. Or not. It didn't really matter. What mattered was I made a choice NOT to take it personally. And I felt a freedom in making that choice!
6. You are overreacting. My honest friend (real friends are honest friends) once told me, "Don't take it personally!" So I made the choice to let it go and move on. Sure, it may have been meant as a personal attack on me. Or not. It didn't really matter. What mattered was I made a choice NOT to take it personally. And I felt a freedom in making that choice!
"Dear God, I pray for everyone this morning who feels alone in their affliction. Their enemies are swiftly closing in. They see no hope of deliverance at all. Please renew their hope. Encourage them, O Lord! You had no reason to hope as you carried your cross up that hill. As you Hung dying. You understand hopelessness better than anyone! You are the Father to the orphan. You are Hope to the hopeless, a Home to the homeless. You are the Healer, the Mender of broken hearts, the Refuge! I worship You for You are God! I Thank You for You do ALL things well! In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!"
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