Pastor Fredo Ramos: So we continue praying the Psalms today. We come to Psalm 140, a Psalm of David. O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent. Those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long, their tongues sting like a snake, the venom of a viper drips from their lips.
Oh, Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent for they are plotting against me. The proud have set a trap to catch me. They have stretched out a net. They have placed traps all along the way.
And I said to the Lord, you are my God. Listen, oh Lord, to my cries for mercy. Oh, sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protect me on the day of battle. Lord, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed or they will become proud.
Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can escape. Don't let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.
But I know the Lord will help those they persecute. He will give justice to the poor. Surely, righteous people are praising your name. The godly will live in your presence. By way of reflection, notice there in verses one and two, this is a prayer for protection.
And what I think is so helpful as we've journeyed through this book together is that we've noticed the theme here of David or whoever's writing, asking God to protect them, to watch over them, to deal with their enemies. This has become a resounding theme. And it's important for us to keep this in mind because our trust in Jesus should not minimize the reality of the evil in the world. And at the same time, the reality and the evil and and the the awful things we see and need protection from should not at all minimize or dismiss the reality of Jesus. Right?
To be a follower of Jesus, to trust in God for our life and salvation is to hold both things as true. That God is king. Jesus reigns. And yet there is still things that we need protection from today. Both of them are held together in prayer.
Yet they are rightly ordered knowing that God is the one we come to because he will protect us. And I think it's important also to note that, man, you might know some individuals who'd like don't like you, who might wish your harm and even set things up in a way that would harm you. But the truth is, we know very, like, such a small amount of all the evil that is actually out in the world. And so this is a prayer for us to open our eyes and to see, man, God, there's far more going on than I could possibly imagine, but you are fully aware of it and you will deal with it. And so Jesus, we hear you now inviting us to simply pray for protection.
And so we ask now God, as we think about today, as we think about maybe the situations that we've seen, in the media, the situations that are continuing to unfold in our world around us. It's so easy just to fill the weight of the evil. And so now we got we just ask, protect us Lord. And and would you subdue violent individuals? We we pray in the name of Jesus that you would deal with what is wrong in the world.
And that all people would yes, make wise decisions to protect themselves, but that this would be an opportunity for us to see our need for your protection, your divine care, your divine covering. Now in the name of Jesus, God, would you protect us and protect people from evil. We pray these things in Jesus name, amen.