Today's Meditation
Read Psalm 54
1Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might.
2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
3For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah
4But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them.
6With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Many of the psalms ask God to bring vengeance upon the psalmist's enemies. I often skip over a Psalm that has a dominant characteristic of retribution or vindication in it, as they seem to go against my higher nature. But this is part of the "human condition" - where we are showered upon by blessings and equally met with violence and revenge. This has been part of our story almost since the beginning when Cain raised up his hand against Abel from jealousy. And over the eons, we've perfected the art.
Yet, I am hopeful that we have perfected our need for one another and our love for one another, as well. This psalm is an open and heartfelt plea to God for help in times of trouble brought about by the psalmist's enemies, whomever they may be, and asks God for justice.
There is much in the world that requires a turn-around-point in regard to justice. Evil is rampant in the world, subduing the voice of the meek, crushing the efforts of the weak, and rewarding those who steal and pillage for greed. The struggle between good and evil, between right and wrong, between saints and sinners is part of our own inner turmoil - it is not solely external.
May the good in you triumph today.
Sinner or Saint by Sarah Vaughan
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