Daily Devotional for Friday, August 16

David’s Plea to God

“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity,” Psalm 64:1, 2.

There is a great evil that is ever present in the world today. That evil is the stirring up of a mob mentality. All that is required is one bitter individual who conjures up a scheme and so the manipulation begins. The gossip and slander will spread like wildfire, and before long, the innocent victim appears as the guilty party. There is no better example of this than Jesus Himself. He was completely innocent; yet, the people still cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” (Luke 23:13-23). There was no actual evidence of guilt, yet the mob got its way.

There were often conspiracies which worked against King David. He had conspiracies among his own trusted friends who schemed behind his back and plotted against him. I can only imagine how hurt and alone David must have felt during those dark days. He made his plea to the Lord for help and deliverance from their wicked devices. The corrupt mob was stirred up against David numerous times, but God went before him and fought for him.

No doubt you have been in situations where you have been hurt, lied about or slandered in some way. Sadly, these situations happen at work, in families and even in the Lord’s churches. Do not allow the pain to drive you away from the Lord or His church. Like David, cry out to God for help and deliverance. Do not react in anger, but allow the Lord to be your defense and to fight for you. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Keep a soft heart before God and trust Him to see you through the storm.

REFLECTION
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Darla Goodrum