December 17, 2009
The Real War
Psalm 140
Schweinfurth Will
Central Truth
There is an ongoing war in the world that is greater than any World War. We need God on our side to come out on top as the victors, because He is a just God who destroys our enemies and protects His children.
Key Verse | Psalm 140:10–11
May he rain down fiery coals upon them!
May he throw them into the fire!
From bottomless pits they will not escape.
A slanderer will not endure on the earth;
calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.
(Psalm 140:10-11)
Psalm 140
Deliver Me, O LORD, from Evil Men
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2
who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4
Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net;
1
140:5
Or they have spread cords as a net
beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
6
I say to the LORD, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their
2
140:8
Hebrew his
evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9
As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10
Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11
Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 140
When I first read this passage I was shocked at God's cruelty and lack of mercy towards the wicked. Isn't God supposed to be nice little Jesus who goes around doing miracles and making everyone happy? This common conception of Jesus is wrong. Jesus may be merciful and forgiving towards sinners, but when it comes to the devil and those that disobey Him until their death, He will destroy them when Judgment Day comes.
This does not mean, however, that there is no hope or that we are all going to hell. On the contrary, Jesus is our knight in shining armor. If we serve Him with our life, He will guide and lead us into battle against the wicked. God is not going to stand to the side while the devil tempts us and destroys our lives. Instead, God will save those who call on Him as the psalmist did and confront the devil head on.
Our God is merciful, but He is also just. He will call us to Himself, but He will also discipline us if we turn away from Him. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are a coward who doesn't like war and always does the right thing. Being a Christian is being a part of God's army and being in the service of the greatest and most powerful leader we could ever imagine.
When it comes to my faith, my life, and whom I choose to follow, I don't want to be on the side that gets destroyed by the most powerful being in the universe. I want to be following Jesus, my knight in shining armor, into the battle against evil and risking my life for Him. Being in the Lord's army is a life of commitment, and God has equipped us to confront evil head on and destroy it.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you given your heart to Christ and become part of His army?
2. Are you in the thick of the battle and serving the Lord and others by attacking evil head on and supporting your fellow soldiers, or are you standing in the back not truly serving the Lord?
3. How can you help God and call on God to confront evil in your life?
4. How are you serving your fellow soldiers in Christ?