SURVIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD
Psalm 70
“May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame.”
I often don’t quite know how to respond to these psalms of David because I am not surrounded by enemies who want to take my life or desire my ruin. Yes, I need God’s help but I am more focused on my needs and perhaps struggles in life, in work, in relationships and in church.
But as I thought about it I realised that I am living in a hostile environment, hostile to my life as a Christian, hostile to my desire to please God and hostile to my ambition to live righteously. David and I live in two different periods and our challenges are different but our need for God’s help to overcome the enemy is the same. And I am reminded that I need not only for God to strengthen my resolve and my spirit but also deal with the forces that threaten to weaken me, forces that seek to turn me away from my path through calamity and misfortune, through ill-health, through seduction and deception, and through obstacles thrown across my path.
When I realised this I realised how much I need to pray for God’s help daily so I can survive this fallen world.
“But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.”