When we are in trials it is easy to blame God, though He is never the cause. When things aren’t turning around as fast as people like, they shift their blame to their creator. The same can be said when someone is in sin. The wrath of God can easily be felt as sinners. Especially when a person reads the Bible and is convicts. The words cut their heart like a knife. David felt this same way when he said, 1“O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?” We can easily feel like we are cast off, while in sin and in trials. It is what we do in these moments that will mean the most in life. Will we continue to complain when things aren’t going our way or put our trust in God for His plans are perfect? What is happening today is very similar to the times of David. Churches are being burnt down to the crisp and Christians are being persecuted all around the world. The enemy is waging war against the church of God now as he did then. David records, 1“They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.” This was sad, and for this he gave it to God in prayer. He needed His guidance on what to do next and how to deal with the situation.
When the name of God is being dishonored, even our words, most times, won’t make a difference. The enemy’s plans to bring down those that believe in God is in full force. The only thing that works is coming to God for help. As we bring these things to His attention, He will know that we trust in Him. The Holy Spirit will then show us how to react to the situation at hand. David prayed this, when he said, 1“O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” It truly saddened him to see God’s name being blasphemed. The people of God were also greatly persecuted. What gave David courage, in all this, was that God is greater. Nothing the enemy could do would ever match the power of God. His might is greater than all things. He said, 1“Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.” He saw God in all His power. His trust was in God who saves. In prayer, he pleaded, 1“O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.” When everything was falling apart, he could have been angry with God. Instead, David’s trust never wavered, as he went to the source and asked Him for deliverance. As people rose up against God, he asked Him to not forget them but protect them. What a great example of faith.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, give us wisdom when things aren’t going our way. Help us know what do when we are being tempted by the enemy. Help us stay strong and not waiver from the faith. Be a light to guide us. Be our hands and feet when we do not know the way. Lord, I pray for the persecuted. I pray for those that love and honor You but are still going through trials. I know that we aren’t promised to live without tribulations. I just pray that as we go through these things that You give us a hedge of protection. May our faith never dwindle when smoke is in the horizon. Keep our heads up high when the enemies are coming. May our shields be forever raised. We need You more than ever. May your praise never escape our lips. I honor You above all things. You are al powerful. Holy is Your Name. Highly exalted will Your Name be forevermore. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 74 (KJV)
O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
